The Community Safety Realized report describes how the science and practice of public health and the values of equity and justice can shape community-driven, multi-sector approaches to safety. The dual purposes of the report are to expand collective understanding of community violence prevention policies, practices, and programs, and to invite collaboration among community-based organizations, government agencies, policymakers, and local, state, and national networks. The report describes the pathway to violence, articulating how structural racism and other forms of systemic drivers contribute to violence and inequities in violence. It also describes the pathway to safety, and highlights a continuum of strategies, and sample partners along the safety pathway. The report also describes the defining features of a public health approach, and the core elements for effectiveness and sustainability.

The report was created for and with members of the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC) under direction from and in partnership with Prevention Institute. The project teams at Prevention Institute and BCHC thank Oxiris Barbot, Former New York City Health Commissioner, and Gretchen Musicant, Commissioner of Health, Minneapolis, and additional members of a small workgroup who met in 2020 and called for the development of this document. This report was also informed by key informant interviews and web-based discussions conducted by Prevention Institute that engaged over 40 individuals from 17 BCHC member health departments and additional Prevention Institute partners to gather input on current best practices, existing initiatives, strategic priorities, and aspirations for advancing a public health approach to community safety.

Opinions in the report represent collaborative work between BCHC and Prevention Institute and do not necessarily reflect the view of any one member or funder.

For related products and resources, visit the Community Safety Realized project page. 

For more information, contact Lisa Fujie Parks: Lisa@preventioninstitute.org.

*Our work to share and use the Community Safety Realized tool is supported by The Langeloth Foundation and The CARESTAR Foundation.