About the Division of Violence Prevention

Our mission

We provide leadership and build bridges across sectors to use data and conduct research to inform prevention activities. We also identify, evaluate, and apply solutions to this preventable public health problem. We focus our efforts on those at greatest risk for violence, suicide, and injury to elevate the health and well-being of all people.

Our vision is a society in which all people and communities are safe, healthy, and thriving.

Focus

Our work supports safer communities, stronger families, and a healthier America. We are committed to using gold-standard science; high-quality, timely, and actionable data; and measurable results to guide every decision. We have four focus areas.

1. Increase exposure to proven prevention strategies. Decades of research have identified effective strategies to prevent violence, injury, and suicide, yet these approaches have not been widely implemented. We collaborate with funded recipients and partners across the United States to disseminate, implement, and expand evidence-based strategies that promote safety and well-being in communities. This approach supports public safety, strengthens families, and advances the Make America Healthy Again agenda by focusing on prevention and resilience.
2. Expand understanding of how to prevent injury and violence and related harm. Injuries—including those resulting from unintentional injuries, interpersonal violence, and self-harm—are among the leading causes of death across the lifespan. Critical gaps remain in understanding risk and protective factors and in identifying the most effective prevention strategies. The division supports research to address these gaps and strengthen the evidence base to keep individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and communities safe. By strengthening the evidence base, we ensure that policies and programs are grounded in science—not assumptions—and produce real results.
3. Advance prevention through a science- and data-to-action approach. Effective prevention depends on timely, high-quality data and the ability to translate science into action. The division advances this approach by strengthening violence, injury, and suicide data systems; supporting rigorous research and evaluation; and promoting the use of data to inform state and local decision-making. We prioritize improving state and community access to timely, actionable data. By integrating research, practice, and real-world evidence, we work to ensure prevention strategies are responsive and impactful. This science-to-action approach supports responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and ensures that prevention efforts produce meaningful impact.
4. Strengthen programs through training and technical assistance. Successful prevention requires not only evidence-based strategies but also the capacity to implement them effectively. We provide training and technical assistance to states, tribes, territories, local jurisdictions, and community partners to support the adoption and adaptation of evidence-based approaches. The division helps ensure violence, injury, and suicide prevention strategies achieve meaningful and lasting impact. By building strong local capacity, we ensure prevention efforts are practical, measurable, and lasting.

DVP remains committed to preventing violence and related injuries in all their forms across the United States. We fund research and programs that focus on violence, injury, and suicide prevention strategies across the lifespan.

Why it matters

Violence, suicide, and injury are widespread public health problems that impact all of us and occur in many forms. Experiencing these forms of harm has a profound impact on lifelong health, opportunity, and well-being. Individuals exposed to them are often at higher risk of developing physical and mental health conditions, experiencing additional harm, or experiencing educational or job challenges.

These significant consequences jeopardize the health and well-being of families and communities and cost society hundreds of billions of dollars in medical care and lost productivity. The good news is that decades of research have proven that violence, suicide, and injury are preventable. The field has identified evidence-based policies, programs, and practices that reduce their health and social consequences.

Our work

For nearly 40 years, DVP has utilized and shared the best available data and conducted research to identify what works to prevent violence, suicide, and injury. DVP brings together partners and connects data, science, and action to inform the development, implementation, and sustainability of proven prevention strategies.

The division works to:

• Monitor behaviors, injuries, and deaths related to these forms of harm.
• Conduct research on the factors that put people at risk for or protect them from harm.
• Create and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention programs, practices, and policies.
• Help state and local partners plan, implement, and evaluate prevention efforts.
• Promote the effective adoption and dissemination of prevention strategies.

The foundation for how we approach this work and make decisions is grounded in three principles:

• Enhancing positive relationships and environments.
• Addressing factors that cut across multiple forms of harm.
• Prioritizing efforts that create societal- and community-level impact.