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SUMMARY
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced the launch of the Public Health – Seattle & King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention to ensure comprehensive coordination and collaboration to address gun violence in King County.
STORY
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today the launch of the Public Health – Seattle & King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention to ensure comprehensive coordination and collaboration to address gun violence in King County. The office will advance existing initiatives and programs, and expand Community Violence Intervention (CVI) services to Kent, Burien and Skyway in 2024.
Building on Executive Constantine’s 2021 declaration of gun violence as a public health emergency, King County launched the community-led Regional Peacekeepers Collective Initiative (RPKC) as an immediate strategy to address gun violence. King County’s efforts have been recognized by the White House for outstanding collaboration, multisector engagement, and comprehensive coordination throughout the community. The new Office will work closely with other National Offices of Violence Prevention and the White House’s newly formed Office of Gun Violence Prevention to leverage additional federal resources to combat gun violence.
“The pain of gun violence is all too familiar, and too many of our friends, family and neighbors are facing this preventable tragedy every day. Whether it’s a headline from around the country, or right here where we live, work and play, every act of gun violence is something we can stop from happening, but only if we work together,” said Executive Constantine. “Our new office will connect us with the federal resources of the White House, serve as a hub for the region, and expand our local initiatives to ensure every community in King County can be safe from gun violence.”
Executive Constantine will also reconvene the Leadership Advisory Group in January, which is comprised of elected, business, and philanthropic leaders in the region to support the work of the new office. Additionally, the Seattle Seahawks will be hosting the Leadership Advisory Group and the annual Together We End Gun Violence Conference in 2024.
RPKC supports culturally responsive BIPOC-led community organizations that provide tailored intervention, prevention and restoration services. These include critical incident and hospital-based responses, intensive engagement and wrap-around life-affirming care and resources to individuals and families most impacted by gun violence and unjust systems.
Since 2021, Regional Peacekeepers Collective:
- Enrolled over 375 young people have been in services.
- Supported over 200 families impacted by gun violence.
- Responded to 135 critical incidents and hosted over 250 community engagement events.
- Distributed over 700-gun lockboxes to increase awareness of the importance of safe storage.
As part of the National Office of Violence Prevention Network, the new office will work directly with community, secure additional resources, guide local efforts and implement nationally recognized strategies for Community Violence Intervention (CVI). The office will also launch a training academy to support the success and well-being of community-based workers on the frontlines.
QUOTES
“The pain of gun violence is all too familiar, and too many of our friends, family and neighbors are facing this preventable tragedy every day. Whether it’s a headline from around the country, or right here where we live, work and play, every act of gun violence is something we can stop from happening, but only if we work together. Our new office will connect us with the federal resources of the White House, serve as a hub for the region, and expand our local initiatives to ensure every community in King County can be safe from gun violence.”
-- King County Executive Dow Constantine
"The CVI work with the RPKC collaborative partners is the most important collaboration between the county and community-based organizations (CBOs) in its history. By uniting CBOs under a common mission of curing the disease of gun violence, we have broken down silos and forged a strong partnership with Harborview Hospital. These partnerships enable us to provide direct services and case management to individuals impacted by gun violence, offering needed relief in times of trauma. The CVI work puts us on the front end of gun violence with prevention and intervention models and also on the back end dealing with the trauma of gun violence," said Community Passageways Founder and CEO Dominique Davis. "The new department of gun violence will be a key component to the success of this community organization and government partnership. We are finally seeing the type of attention going into addressing violence in our communities that has plagued our communities for decades. Now we have a chance to put real investments into CVI!"
“The National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform is thrilled by this bold advance to address gun violence in King County,” said David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. “Our partnership with the team at Public Health-Seattle & King County through the White House Community Violence Intervention Collaborative (CVIC) Initiative in 2021-2022 led to the inclusion of the Regional Gun Violence Program in the National Office of Violence Prevention Directors Network, laying a solid foundation for a formal office. Officially naming the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention demonstrates King County’s unwavering commitment to address the public health crisis of gun violence through a critical regional approach. Kudos to the team, we stand with you and look forward to the work ahead.”
“The Alliance for Gun Responsibility proudly supports this important step in formalizing a Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention,” said Renee Hopkins, CEO of Alliance for Gun Responsibility. “We know that collaboration and coordination are critical to the mission to address gun violence holistically, and taking this next step in how our region works together to address this crisis is crucial. We are honored to have worked with the team at Public Health-Seattle & King County and partners for the past year to produce the Together We End Gun Violence Symposium and Conference. We value this vital partnership and look forward to the collective impact we will have together."
“The Everytown Community Safety Fund is proud to support the work of Public Health – Seattle & King County and the establishment of the Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention” said Michael Sean-Spence, Managing Director of Community Safety Initiatives at Everytown for Gun Safety. “Successful community violence intervention programs are anchored in collaboration, coordination and the elevation of community-led solutions. King County’s leadership cannot be understated — they are leaders in the movement, and we look forward to supporting their work.”
“Sadly, gun violence in our region is all too common but it is preventable. One of our key focus areas off the field is providing direct support for programs and prevention efforts that make our community a safer place,” said Mario Bailey, Seattle Seahawks Vice President of Community Engagement & Legends. “The Seahawks support Public Health – Seattle & King County’s new Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention in its commitment to expand community-led solutions where they are needed most. Our hope is that through strategic partnerships, awareness, and necessary resources, we can come together to create positive change.”
“The opening of the Office of Violence Prevention is a positive step toward enhancing public safety and centering equity in King County,” said Kevin Miller, Director of Microsoft’s Justice Reform Initiative. “Microsoft is committed to supporting and improving public safety and well-being at the local level in partnership with health and human services agencies, criminal legal system stakeholders, and community-based organizations. Through the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, we are supporting King County’s progress and efforts and will build on the strong momentum to establish Offices of Violence Prevention across the country.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Chase Gallagher, Executive’s Office, 206-308-7692
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