Elevated community voice in framing for public health approaches to community safety.

We continued to expand the conversation in support of a public health approach to community safety. In early 2023 we co-launched a community safety ad campaign with Big Cities Health Coalition that reached 12 million people. The campaign highlights how community investments—including equitable access to affordable housing, green spaces, living wages, education, and more—can lead to healthier and safer futures. We also published a narrative and framing guidance report on behalf of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Our message was clear: building safer communities must embed health equity and racial justice from the start, center community voices, and prioritize strategies and policies that address the drivers of violence in our neighborhoods. As part of our efforts to help change the conversation and build a movement for safer communities, we presented at multiple conferences, including at the annual Agents of Change summit, Safe States Alliance conference, and the American Public Health Association meeting. We also presented to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to advance momentum for public health approaches to community safety among behavioral health governmental agency partners.

Funders: Annie E Casey Foundation; The Jacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation.

Image by Nye' Lyn Tho.