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California Public Health Roadmap for Firearm Violence Prevention Report

Injury and Violence PRevention Branch

California Public Health Roadmap for Firearm Violence Prevention

Local Strategies to Reduce and Prevent Firearm Violence

Despite California leading the nation in efforts to reduce firearm violence, firearm injuries and deaths continue to significantly impact the health and well-being of Californians, and its impacts are not evenly distributed across communities. For example:

Black Californians experience the highest rates of death by firearm, more than twice the rates of any other group.[1]
California veterans account for 22% of all firearm suicides.[1]
Firearm-related deaths are also the leading cause of death among children and adolescents.[2]

In response, on August 29, 2025, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI), in partnership with the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at California State University, Sacramento, released the California Public Health Roadmap for Firearm Violence Prevention: Local Strategies to Reduce and Prevent Firearm Violence (PDF, 6.8 MB).

The Roadmap draws on extensive formative research conducted between 2023–2024 with California community members, experts, key informants, local health and behavioral health departments, and other state and local violence prevention leaders. It highlights key contributors to firearm violence and provides actionable, evidence-based prevention strategies primarily focused on primary prevention, while recognizing that strategies often intersect across the prevention spectrum as part of a comprehensive approach to firearm violence—and all forms of violence.

Cover of the California Public Health Roadmap for Firearm Violence Prevention report

Visit the California Public Health Roadmap for Firearm Violence Prevention Report (PDF, 6.8 MB) to learn more.

The Roadmap serves as a catalyst for California's public health practitioners, community leaders, and state and local decision-makers to elevate firearm violence prevention through evidence-base and evidence-informed strategies that align with the specific needs and resources within local communities. Rather than prescribing a single path, the Roadmap provides a framework of firearm violence prevention strategies for public health leaders, in partnership with their communities, to consider when making meaningful steps towards a healthier, safer and more equitable California:

1. Address Racism
2. Elevate Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and Reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
3. Change Social Norms
4. Strengthen Household Financial Security
5. Strengthen Social Supports
6. Improve Neighborhood Conditions
7. Improve Firearm Safety Practices
8. Implement Community Violence Intervention (CVI) Programs

VPI_UnderstandingFirearmViolence_2Pager_Feb2026

The Roadmap demonstrates CDPH's commitment to prevent violence in our state by providing a valuable tool for state decision-makers and local communities as they continue to work towards reducing firearm injury and death, as well as all forms of violence. As a supplemental resource, CDPH has created the Understanding What Drives Firearm Violence – What Helps Prevent It: A Public Health Approach to Prevention (PDF). This concise two-page resource is designed for community partners, decision-makers, and others who may be less familiar with public health concepts, including “upstream” prevention strategies. The quick-reference resource highlights seven out of the eight strategies from the Roadmap that communities can consider, centering on practical, evidence-based, upstream approaches that address many of the root causes of firearm violence.

Bringing the Roadmap to Life Through Collaboration and Action

The 2025 California Public Health Convening on Strategies for Firearm Violence Prevention (Convening) marked a historic milestone in California’s commitment to preventing firearm violence through a public health approach. Hosted by CDPH on October 29–30, 2025, this first-of-its-kind statewide Convening brought together over 120 leaders from local health jurisdictions, behavioral health departments, community-based organizations, and violence prevention partners.

Following the release of the California Public Health Roadmap for Firearm Violence Prevention: Local Strategies to Reduce and Prevent Firearm Violence (PDF, 6.8 MB), the Convening focused on eight key strategies to reduce and prevent firearm violence, including addressing racism, elevating Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), and improving neighborhood conditions.

The Convening Proceedings Summary (PDF) shares key insights, strategies, and practical examples discussed during plenary sessions, workshops, and peer exchanges. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions and collaborative sessions that focused on tackling challenges and sharing practical solutions. This resource highlights the exchange of those ideas on how to promote equity and implement evidence-based strategies in firearm violence prevention.

For more firearm related resources, please visit the Violence Prevention Initiative Resource Hub for more information.

Please reach out to the Violence Prevention Initative (VPI) at Violence.Prevention@cdph.ca.gov for more information.

References

[1] California Department of Public Health. EpiCenter: California Injury Data Online (skylab4.cdph.ca.gov/epicenter/) May 1, 2025. Accessed May 6, 2025.

[2] Panchal N. The impact of gun violence on children and adolescents (KFF. kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-and-adolescents/). February 22, 2024. Accessed May 2, 2025.‍