Addressing gun violence through social work education

Gun violence is a critical public health issue in the United States, with firearms involved in over 48,000 deaths in 2021. However, social workers receive limited training to address the risks and impacts of gun violence despite frequently working with affected populations. This paper examines how social work education can better prepare students through a framework developed by the Police Executive Research Forum categorizing gun violence into four types: suicide, criminal homicide, domestic violence homicide, and mass shootings. Each section explores prevention and intervention strategies related to each category and innovative recommendations for integrating these topics into social work curricula and field placements. A comprehensive approach addressing prevention and intervention strategies across the areas of suicide, homicide, domestic violence, and mass shootings is key to producing social workers ready to effectively address gun violence. This paper provides specific examples of assignments, class discussions, field experiences, and other educational strategies for training social work students to meet this urgent need. Enhanced education around gun violence will equip social workers to advocate for policy changes, educate communities, provide trauma-informed care, and collaborate with multidisciplinary partners to promote safety and well-being.