Advancing a Social Work Strategy to Address the Crisis of Firearm Violence

Firearm violence is increasing in the US and was the leading cause of death for children for the first time in 2020 (CDC, 2022). In that year, 45,222 people died by firearms, including death by suicide, homicide, accidents, and mass shootings; firearm deaths disproportionally affect Black Americans, especially males ages 15-44. Moreover, from 2019-2020, the American Indian/Alaskan Native population experienced a 27% increase in firearm suicide, the highest among any group (Kegler et al., 2022). The consequences of firearm violence, including nonfatal shootings and the broad impacts of violence exposure, affect communities on a massive scale (Carlson, 2023). Following the Bruen decision by the Supreme court in 2022, the future of some of the most promising policy options to reduce this death toll is unclear. Given this legislative context, social workers and other health professionals are called to action to help prevent injuries and deaths (Bright, 2022; Cunningham et al., 2022).

A critical way to help reduce firearm deaths is by training professionals across disciplines to assess and discuss firearm safety with clients (Sathya & Kapoor, 2022). Social workers have a unique opportunity to provide interventions because of our existing associations with some of the most at-risk populations. Yet, research also shows that social workers do not have access to training specific to firearm assessment and education (Logan-Greene et al., 2018; Sperlich et al., 2022). The lack of opportunities for training social workers on firearm violence and prevention is a significant gap in social work education and practice.

This roundtable session will begin a dialogue about the need for frontline social worker intervention and training, as well as a supportive research agenda. Presenters with a range of backgrounds will present on multiple key issues. We will start with a general framework of the nature and impact of firearm violence In the United States, including the large number of deaths that occur from firearm suicide and how the focus on mass shootings obscures the toll that other homicides are having on communities. We give particular attention to vulnerable populations, including how the popular discourse inaccurately scapegoats mentally ill individuals, adding to pre-existing stigmas. We will review the state of research on training to build clinicians' cultural competence to address firearm risks, as well as on best practice interventions for clinicians and clients (Betz & Wintemute, 2015; Pirelli & Gold, 2019). Presenters will pay particular attention to gaps in the research literature with respect to social workers' role in preventing firearm violence.

This session aims to stimulate urgently needed conversations about social work engagement in firearm prevention, share current training opportunities, and encourage participants to discuss their experiences and ideas on developing and implementing firearm prevention strategies. Social workers cannot fix the problem of firearm violence in this country alone, and we will need to work together with other disciplines to help create change. However, we can and must leverage the skills and reach of our discipline to address this crisis.