Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Overview
This project will implement and evaluate a unique community-level intervention to prevent firearm violence among youth in a Washington, DC community. The proposed intervention, called “Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence,” involves a unique, theory-driven effort to develop and disseminate multiple media featuring alternative, non-violent identity trajectories, with actualization of those trajectories facilitated through a community support process.
Focus groups and key informant interviews will be analyzed to finalize intervention elements and data collection protocols. The intervention will use a targeted snowball method to support a community cohort design with a non-contiguous comparison community. The intervention strategy includes the sharing of youth-created media, showcasing alternative identity trajectories, through various community platforms. Participant self-reported intervention media exposure will be assessed to quantify the dissemination of messages by topic, consistency with the intervention brand, and representation of possible selves narratives.
The project involves a collaboration of several organizations, including the Prevention and Community Health Department of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, Mint, Inc., Don’t Shoot Guns, Shoot Cameras, Highlands Addition Community Center, the DC Office of the Attorney General, and the DC Office on Gun Violence Prevention/Building Blocks program.
Location: Washington Highlands in Washington, D.C.
Research Aims
Phase One (Years 1 & 2)
We will conduct formative research to finalize intervention elements, including identification of potential non-violent identity and branding attributes and identification of key community communication channels; finalize composition of the Community Steering Committee; and development/pilot testing of data collection instruments and protocols.
Phase Two (Years 3, 4, & 5)
We will implement the intervention, collect baseline and two rounds of follow-up survey data in a community sample of youth ages 12- 16 and a parent/guardian for each surveyed youth, collect qualitative data to understand intervention effects, analyze the data, share data and results through the Community Firearm Violence Prevention Network and disseminate results in collaboration with community partners and the Network.
Principal Investigators
Principal Investigator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Community Partners
Co-Investigator, Community Intervention Coordinator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Study Team
Graduate Student Researcher, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Co-Investigator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Co-Investigator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Data and Project Coordinator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Student Researcher, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Co-Investigator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Co-Investigator, Changing the Narrative on Firearms Violence: A Community Collaborative Intervention
Partners/Supporters
Dont Shoot Guns, Shoot Cameras
DC Housing Authority/Highlands Addition Community Center
Mint, Inc.
DC Office of the Attorney General
Building Blocks
DC Office on Gun Violence Prevention
This research is supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award Number 1UG3MD018296-01.
The content of this website is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.