Illinois Attends Violence Prevention Event Hosted by the White House
Quiwana Bell, Head of Illinois’ Office of Firearm Violence Prevention, to share local strategies and ideas in Washington, D.C.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
CONTACT
SPRINGFIELD—Today, Illinois joins the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) in a first-of-its-kind event hosted by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This event will feature local intervention strategies and the collaborative ecosystem used by Offices of Violence Prevention (OVPs) to keep our communities safe.
OVPs, also known as offices of neighborhood safety and other names, are premised on the notion that community safety should not be the exclusive province of policing and the criminal justice system. Charged with addressing public safety through the lens of public health, OVPs typically focus on the application of community-based strategies to intervene in or prevent violence for those at highest risk of engaging in or being the victim of gun violence.
The Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) is an initiative of Governor JB Pritzker – who issued an Executive Order declaring gun violence a public health crisis – and a provision of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), which the Illinois legislature passed in 2021. The RPSA calls for a comprehensive approach to reducing firearm violence through targeted community investments. The OFVP, housed within the Illinois Department of Human Services, funds violence prevention services and leads community safety strategies for Chicago and other Illinois communities impacted by firearm violence throughout the state. These services include street outreach, case management, and victim support services.
“Illinois is proud to be one of the states leading the way when it comes to meaningfully addressing firearm violence. We are learning from the data and from our communities where help is needed the most, and implementing strategies that focus on the root causes of violence,” said Quiwana Bell, Assistant Secretary Designate, Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention. “I am grateful to the Biden administration for helping build momentum and collaboration around the common cause of keeping our communities safe.” Bell will represent Illinois at the White House event.
Numerous local and state governments have recently established OVPs in response to nationwide surges in violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. In line with this momentum, in September 2023, President Biden established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to reduce gun violence and implement and expand upon key executive and legislative action which has been taken to save lives. This White House gathering of NOVPN members from more than 40 jurisdictions represents an exciting next step in President Biden’s commitment to ending gun violence in our country.
“The NOVPN team is excited to have Network members from across the country join us at the White House in this first of its kind discussion in our nation’s history,” said NOVPN Director Shantay Jackson. “These leaders are at the forefront of their local jurisdictions, working tirelessly with their communities and partner agencies in the reduction of gun violence and, as we head into the summer months, this conversation is necessary, timely, and invaluable.”
About the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network
The National Offices of Violence Prevention Network (NOVPN) is a first-of-its-kind learning community with the goal of significantly increasing the expertise and effectiveness of offices of violence prevention and other similar agencies. The NOVPN hosts virtual and in-person convenings; provides trainings on violence reduction practices; coordinates cross-OVP learning exchanges; offers leadership development; and builds OVP capacity in data collection, fund development, and media relations. The NOVPN also supports the creation of new OVPs in jurisdictions interested in developing such agencies, and the Network partners with the White House’s National Office of Gun Violence Prevention to facilitate access to OVPs. Originally established in 2021 with a membership of 21 established OVPs, the Network has grown to nearly 60 members, including multiple state-level offices of violence prevention and local OVPs launched with NOVPN support. To learn more, visit https://ovpnetwork.org/. The NOVPN is a strategic initiative of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR). To learn more about NICJR, visit https://nicjr.org/.
About the Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention
Firearm violence is a multifaceted challenge that requires a public health approach to stop the cycles of violence in disproportionately impacted communities. The Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) was created as a result of the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) (430 ILCS 69), which was passed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2021. The RPSA is a comprehensive approach to violence prevention in response to the State of Illinois' heightened experience of loss, harm, and trauma by the hands of firearm violence, especially during the COVID-19 lock down.
The OFVP has been funding violence prevention programming since early 2022. The OFVP is working to reduce firearm violence rates across Illinois, while improving access to education, employment, and other critical services for communities with the highest rates of violence. The OFVP has committed over $215 million in funding to 170 community-based organizations across Illinois who are doing this critical work. Of the RPSA communities with the highest rates of firearm victimization during January through June of 2022, 80% saw declines in 2023. For more information, visit https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=139077.
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