Category: Social Justice Category: Social Justice (show less)

The injuries and deaths by gun violence that occur every day in America are a public health crisis that needs to be addressed. Social workers play a powerful part in preventing gun violence, through education, outreach, and intervention. Public health education, legal, and legislative tools can help social workers combat the crisis of gun violence deaths and injuries through prevention and intervention.

Tools to be Discussed:

ASK to End Family Fire: Asking assessment questions about the safe storage of guns in the home, and encouraging others in the community to ask about safe storage, boosts education and prevention of Family Fire, the injuries and deaths from gun violence that result from unsecured guns in the home.

•Questions to ask
•Safe Storage guidelines for guns in the home

Extreme Risk Laws: ERPOs, or Extreme Risk Protection Orders, serve as an important tool to keep persons in crisis from harming themselves and others.
•What is an ERPO?
•Who is qualified to petition for an ERPO?
•Social workers’ role in ERPO?
•Which states currently have ERPO laws, or are considering them?

Policies that affect Gun Prevention:

•Background Checks: Background checks for every gun purchased in America will keep guns out of the hands of those who should not access them, preventing gun violence injuries and deaths.
•Crime Guns: Transparency in tracking crime guns and holding gun dealers who sell them accountable for negligent sales practices is crucial in reducing gun violence in our communities.
•Assault Weapons Ban: Assault weapons have been used in nearly every major mass shooting of the modern era. The renewal of an assault weapons ban is an important step in preventing the loss of life from gun violence

This course does not provide CE Credits.