In the burden of violence, You can make a Difference

In the burden of violence, You can make a Difference

By: Alexandra de Leon Date: May 27th, 2022

Dear HIPRC Friends and Colleagues,

It is difficult to know how to respond when tragedy strikes over and over again. For some, news of gun violence is shocking each time it occurs and in others I have witnessed a sense of resignation that firearm violence has become a way of life in our country. Firearm violence now exceeds motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death for persons 1-24 years of age, and firearm purchases have surged over the past two years. The triple pandemic of COVID-19, racism, and inequality has contributed to the increasing rates of injury, violence and health disparities experienced by our communities across our nation, especially by communities of color.

In collaboration with community partners, the University of Washington Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (HIPRC) is on the forefront of injury and violence prevention. This work is grounded in an enduring commitment to equity and anti-racism in research, education & training and community outreach.  We ask you to join HIPRC in supporting our partners who have identified priorities to improve the well-being of their communities.

Some ways you can become involved and make a difference are by partnering with HIPRC to:

1) Engage with youth in our communities on injury and violence prevention topics most important to them

2) Connect our community youth to injury and violence prevention data, information, and/or resources

3) Provide career development mentorship to middle and high school students

4) Offer our partners technical expertise in areas of high priority to them

5) Disseminate our injury and violence prevention toolkits such as:

• The Three Interventions Toolkit is a digital toolkit featuring three interventions to reduce firearm injury and death. Firearm Safe Storage, Voluntary Waiver of Firearm Rights, & Extreme Risk Protection Order.
• The Parent Resource sheet on “How to talk to your child after a Tragedy”

Please join us in committing to this and other important work at the HIPRC to reduce injury and violence, and to ensure the well-being and safety of our communities.

To get involved, please use our ‘Contact Us’ page.

Sincerely,

Monica S. Vavilala, MD

Professor, Anesthesiology and Pediatrics

Director, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center

University of Washington

HIPRC acknowledges the support of its Community Advisory Board in thinking through this response.