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May
11

Regional Gun Violence Prevention Community Resource Guide

  • If you need immediate help from the police, medics or fire department call 9-1-1.
  • If you or a loved one is actively experiencing a behavioral health crisis, call the King County Regional Crisis Line at Crisis Connections at 206-461-3222 or 1-866-427-4747, or visit www.CrisisConnections.org.
  • Dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
  • For a comprehensive list of victims services, view the Victim Service Resource Guide (203 KB).

Gun violence is not inevitable, it is preventable, there are ways to intervene and there is support for healing. Everyone deserves to be safe and well.

Regional Peacekeepers Collective distributes gun lockboxes during a commemorative event on National Gun Violence Awareness Day
Regional Peacekeepers Collective distributes gun lockboxes during a commemorative event on National Gun Violence Awareness Day

In King County, we understand that gun violence is a public health emergency. The King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention seeks to prevent and eliminate gun violence and ensure equitable health outcomes for all by providing life-affirming care and resources to the individuals and families who are most impacted by unjust systems.

Gun violence must be addressed through a robust public health approach that empowers those closest to the problem to work in partnership to determine and implement lasting solutions.

While we cannot eliminate gun violence overnight, we can decrease risk and increase safety by connecting to community supports and services that address the physical, emotional, and economic impacts of gun violence. Everyone in King County deserves to live in communities that are hopeful, safe, healthy, and thriving.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by gun violence and needs support, please see the following resources:

Hospital-based & Community-Linked Intervention

Harborview Medical Center conducts a Hospital-based & Community-Linked Violence Intervention program that provides comprehensive bedside support and service connections to individuals with gunshot injuries and their families. Co-funded by Public Health – Seattle & King County, The City of Seattle, and the State of Washington, Hospital-based staff connect individuals and families with community-based resources.

Hospital-based provider

Harborview Medical Center is a comprehensive healthcare facility dedicated to providing specialized care for a broad spectrum of patients from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the most vulnerable residents of King County. As the only designated Level I adult and pediatric trauma and verified burn center in the state of Washington, Harborview serves as the regional trauma and burn referral center for Alaska, Montana and Idaho and the disaster preparedness and disaster control hospital for Seattle and King County.

  • Services: Hospital-based intervention, referrals to community care for eligible clients
  • Emergency Department phone: 206-744-3074 
  • Hours of operation: Trauma and Emergency Medicine is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

Gun violence intervention, prevention and restoration initiatives

Regional Peacekeepers Collective (RPKC) is an initiative of the King County Regional Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This initiative supports culturally responsive BIPOC-led community organizations that provide Intervention, Prevention, and Restoration services including critical incident and hospital-based response, intensive engagement, and wrap-around life-affirming care and resources to individuals and families most impacted by gun violence and unjust systems.

RPKC service providers

Community Passageways is a non-profit that creates alternatives to incarceration for young people by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency. 

  • Services: Critical Incident Management, Violence Interruption, Client Services and Referral, Family Restoration Services, Community Safe Passage
  • Phone: 206-257-0774
  • Email: info@communitypassageways.org

Freedom Project works alongside the community to dismantle the institution of mass incarceration and heal its traumatic effects on individuals directly impacted by incarceration, on their loved ones, and on our community. 

Progress Pushers are committed to the empowerment and upliftment of systemically oppressed communities. their mission is to guide, educate, and empower youth that are most impacted by societal systems. 

The mission of Urban Family is to create opportunities that empower urban youth and their families to develop their full potential and help reshape the social environment of their community. 

  • Services: Youth Mentorship/Internship Programs, Family Support, Neighborhood Safety, and Community Events
  • Phone: 206-775-8901 
  • Email: info1@urbanfam.org

The YMCA Alive & Free program serves youth and young adults across King County who are involved with or impacted by groups, gangs, community violence, or the justice system. This work is done through street outreach and case management in partnership with several cities and organizations across King County. 

  • Services: Violence Interruption, Outreach, Case Management Service Navigation 
  • Phone: 206-749-7550

Seattle Community Safety Initiative (SCSI)

Seattle Community Safety Initiative (SCSI) is an initiative of the City of Seattle, supporting a hub-based approach to provide services in the following three geographic locations: Central, Southeast, and West Seattle. SCSI provides school safe passage, street outreach, and service navigation. SCSI partners with the Regional Peacekeepers Collective to provide critical incident response and follow-up care for those most directly impacted by gun violence. 

SCSI providers

Community Passageways is a non-profit that creates alternatives to incarceration for young people by rebuilding our communities through committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency. 

  • Services: Critical Incident Management, Violence Interruption, Client Services and Referral, Family Restoration Services, Community Safe Passage
  • Phone: 206-257-0774
  • Email: info@communitypassageways.org

The mission of Urban Family is to create opportunities that empower urban youth and their families to develop their full potential and help reshape the social environment of their community. 

  • Services: Youth Mentorship/Internship Programs, Family Support, Neighborhood Safety, and Community Events
  • Phone: 206-775-8901 
  • Email: info1@urbanfam.org

The YMCA Alive & Free program serves youth and young adults across King County who are involved with or impacted by groups, gangs, community violence, or the justice system. This work is done through street outreach and case management in partnership with several cities and organizations across King County. 

  • Services: Violence Interruption, Outreach, Case Management Service Navigation 
  • Phone: 206-749-7550

Firearm safety and safe storage

Lock It Up Program

King County's Lock It Up program mission is to promote safety in our communities by increasing safe firearm storage. For more information, visit Lock It Up.

Learn more on the Care & Closure website and sign up for email updates.

Extreme Risk Protection Order

Petitions for Extreme Risk Protection Orders can be filed to stop someone from having firearms. This may be applicable if they are at extreme risk of harming themselves or others. These orders can be requested by an intimate partner, family member, household member or a law enforcement agency. Learn more about Extreme Risk Protection Orders in King County.

Additional community programs

Basic needs

Emotional and mental health

  • Children's Crisis Outreach Response System (CCORS), King County Dept. of Community and Human Services
    CCORS helps families achieve stability, helps prevent future crises, and helps children remain in their home.
  • Medication for Opioid Use Disorder program for youth ages 12-25:
    This program is run by Ryther through a partnership with Kaiser Permanente. This program is designed to address the specific needs of young people who are struggling with substance use disorders, particularly opioid use disorder. The primary purpose of these programs is to provide young people with access to evidence-based treatments that can help them overcome their addiction and achieve recovery. Ryther works in partnership with Kaiser Permanente and YouthCare. Kaiser staff prescribe medication and YouthCare facilities connect clients to Ryther. Ryther provides engagement, intensive case management, and therapy.
  • REBUILD
    Launched in January of 2022, REBUILD connects formerly incarcerated individuals of color to culturally competent therapists. Our Therapist connectors (including formerly incarcerated people and people who have lived experiences with mental health challenges) assist in matching formerly incarcerated and injustice-involved individuals with therapists of color. This assistance includes finding and vetting therapists, setting up appointments, facilitating the payment process, and paying for up to 10 sessions of therapy for some.
  • Therapy Fund Foundation
    Our mission is to eliminate barriers to Black healing for those who have been historically excluded throughout the diaspora, by providing mental health education, advocacy, and therapeutic services at no cost to the client, that address those suffering from racial trauma, anxiety, depression, and other ailments due to systemic oppression, economic suffering, and intergenerational trauma that has not been addressed in the past.
  • Washington Teen Link
    Teen Link is a safe place for teens to connect with their peers for emotional support and resources. Peer volunteers answer calls, texts, and chats from teens in Washington State, 7 days a week from 6 am -10 pm. For peer to peer support visit www.teenlink.org or call or text 866-833-6546. For additional resources, see section on "Where to Turn For Teens".
  • Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Next Day Appointments (NDA) for mental health and substance use disorder:
    The SUD NDA is a new system this year and there are 10 youth appointments available per week Monday to Friday. King County offers Next Day Appointments (NDAs) to youth and adults experiencing mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) crises who are not currently enrolled and/or engaged in publicly funded behavioral health treatment services. Crisis is defined by the youth and family.
    • To schedule an appointment: The practitioner, a parent, or the youth may call the Washington Recovery Helpline at 866-789-1511 to schedule. (Please note the referral source when possible)

Youth development, mentoring and restorative justice programs

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