The trauma that results from experiencing violence can affect individuals and communities long after the incident has occurred. Survivors may experience grief and feel a loss of safety in their daily lives. The ripple effects of violence can impact those who were not at the scene of the event but who may share an identity with the victims, especially in cases of hate crimes. However, as Everytown for Gun Safety details in their report Beyond Measure, many survivors also experience post-traumatic growth, characterized by a renewed sense of strength, a greater appreciation for life, deepened spirituality, and improved relationships. Nationwide, policymakers, community leaders, and advocates are working within communities to prevent future instances of violence and helping survivors heal through trauma-responsive policies and programs.

On June 13, 2023, Pathways to Resilience hosted a Learning Network session about strategies for preventing violence and providing trauma-responsive services to individuals and communities who have experienced violence. During the session, Abigail Hurst from Everytown for Gun Safety, Andrew Woods from Hartford Communities That Care, and Nannette Dix from the Louisville Office for Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods discussed the following best practices for interrupting cycles of violence and helping survivors begin the healing process.

Seek out community input to develop policies and programs that are responsive to local needs.

Soliciting community input is essential for building trust and ensuring that policies are informed by the people they will impact. Government agencies can partner with community organizations to support existing violence intervention efforts and build capacity among those organizations. Policymakers can also engage youth via mentorship, leadership training, after-school programs, and focus groups to prevent violence and understand its impact on young people.

Support survivors of violence with trauma-responsive strategies.

Violence has wide-ranging and lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities, including on those who may have a shared identity with the victims. Trauma-responsive strategies that center survivors, such as hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs), mental health services, and peer support services, can help survivors on their journeys toward healing.

Find common ground to address the causes and impacts of violence.

To prevent violence and address its effects, a broad array of stakeholders must find shared values and common language. Depoliticizing violence prevention and gun violence prevention in particular is key to achieving buy-in for policy implementation. For example, by focusing their messaging on increasing safety and supporting public health, a Connecticut coalition including Hartford Communities That Care was able to garner bipartisan support for a bill for Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by HVIPs.

Create sustainability through diverse funding sources and workforce investments.

Identifying multiple funding sources at the state and federal levels can help support violence prevention work in the long-term and allow for policy innovations. Medicaid may be able to reimburse for certain services, and additional funding is available through philanthropy and grants from a wide range of sources (e.g., Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Justice Programs). It is also important to invest in workplace supports for frontline staff who face exposure to violence and may be experiencing their own current or past trauma.

Session Resources

    Watch the full Pathways Learning Network session below. Pathways to Resilience will continue to amplify strategies for promoting healing and resilience in the education sector and share resources to provide guidance to states seeking to implement similar approaches.