Gun Violence Awareness Month: A Message from Executive Director Fatimah Loren Dreier

Gun Violence Awareness Month is a time to recommit ourselves to ending one of the most urgent public health crises facing families and communities across the country. Although we are seeing signs of promise and progress, gun violence remains one of the leading causes of death for children and teens in America. We are reminded all too often of both the heartbreaking scale of this issue and the extraordinary role we all have in changing its trajectory. 

At The HAVI, we believe violence is not inevitable—it is preventable. 

Across the country, frontline workers, physicians, survivors, hospitals, and community leaders are proving every day that safer communities are possible when we invest in healing, trust, and evidence-based solutions. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) is rooted in the wisdom and resilience of communities that are closest to the challenge and often closest to the solution. 

Many cities across the country have experienced historic declines in homicides in recent years. But progress is not permission to pull back—it is a reason to step up. Lower rates of violence should strengthen our commitment to investing in what is working. 

And we know what works.  

Innovative programs like Hospital-based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) are saving lives by meeting people at a critical moment after injury and surrounding them with trauma-informed care, trusted relationships, and long-term support. A landmark 2026 study found that sustained engagement in an HVIP was associated with a 50 percent reduction in violence-related reinjury and related outcomes—powerful validation that HVIPs work. 

At a moment when federal funding is shifting, we must continue to act boldly and think creatively about sustainable solutions. States are increasingly exploring tools like Medicaid to support violence prevention and healing because safer communities require sustained investment. 

The progress we are seeing today did not happen overnight or by accident. It is the result of brave and immensely committed people choosing to get involved, build partnerships, support survivors, and invest in solutions that bring communities together. When frontline workers, hospitals, physicians, philanthropic partners, advocates, and residents work together, we create an ecosystem for lasting safety and healing. 

Throughout Gun Violence Awareness Month, organizations across the country—including HAVI members and partners—are hosting events, community gatherings, educational programs, and opportunities for action. We encourage everyone to learn more, show up, support local efforts, and find meaningful ways to be part of the solution. Creating safer communities is not the responsibility of any one organization or institution. It requires all of us. 

This month, we honor the frontline workers, physicians, survivors, violence intervention professionals, and community leaders who carry this work forward every day. Often without recognition, they are helping individuals heal, interrupting cycles of violence, and creating pathways to hope and opportunity. Their dedication reminds us that violence can be prevented, lives can be saved, and stronger communities are possible.