× The federal government has shut down due to the failures of the President and Congress to continue government funding. Millions of Californians receiving benefits from state programs may be impacted. For now, California’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) will continue to provide services and enroll eligible families as long as funding is available. No new federal funding to California WIC will be provided until the President and Congress take action. Families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their WIC appointments. This information is subject to change, so please monitor the California WIC website for updates.

Please be wary of potential highly partisan political messaging while visiting federal government websites for information related to the federal government shutdown.

Skip Navigation LinksViolencePreventionInitiative

Top Menu

injury and violence prevention (ivp) branch

VPI Webpage Header Banner

Preventing Violence in California Data Brief 1: Overview of Homicide and Suicide Deaths in California 

New Reports:

Data Brief 1: Overview of Homicide and Suicide Deaths in California (PDF) Updated 11/15/19 

Injury Data Brief: Suicides Among Veterans in California, 2017 (PDF)

Injury Data Brief: Suicides Deaths Among Veterans in California, 2017-2018 (PDF) 

Injury Data Brief: Suicide Death Among Veterans in California, 2019 (PDF) 

Fact Sheet: Homicide in California, 2018 (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Monitoring Firearm-Related Deaths in California, 2018 (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Suicide in California, 2018 (PDF) - Updated 11/22/2021

Fact Sheet: Violent Deaths Involving Multiple Victims in California, 2017-2018 (PDF)

Infographic: Suicide in California, 2018 (PDF) -  Updated 11/22/2021

California Household Firearm Storage Practices, 2017-2019 (PDF)

Older Adult Suicide in California, 2018 (PDF) 

Fact Sheet: Homicide in California, 2019 (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Monitoring Firearm-Related Deaths in California, 2019 (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Suicide in California, 2019 (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Violent Deaths Involving Multiple Victims in California, 2019 (PDF)

Infographic: Suicide in California, 2019 (PDF)

Fact Sheet: Homicide in California, 2020 (PDF) - New!

​​What is the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI)?

The goal of the Violence Prevention Initiative is to reduce violence and create safer and healthier communities for all Californians.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is committed to preventing violence and exploring innovative approaches to address this complex issue through the lens of public health. CDPH focuses on preventing multiple forms of violence and has established the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI), with the purpose of elevating violence as a departmental priority, integrating and aligning efforts across multiple CDPH programs, and framing the public health governmental role in addressing violence. 

​What is the Public Health Role in Violence Prevention?

Public health recognizes that violence is preventable and takes a primary prevention approach, working "upstream" to address underlying causes to prevent violence from happening in the first place.

The public health approach to violence prevention focuses on the following four-step process:

  1. Define and monitor the problem – Analyze data such as the number of violence-related injuries and deaths.

  2. Identify risk and protective factors – These can increase or decrease the likelihood of a person becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence.

  3. Develop and test prevention strategies – Use data and findings from evaluation and research as an evidence-based approach to program planning.

  4. Assure widespread dissemination of effective practices – Share best practices through networking, training, and technical assistance. 

​Preventing Violence in California, Volume 1: The Role of Public Health

Preventing Violence in California Volume 1: The role of Public Health (PDF)

​​
Iceburg chart showing affects of violence​VPI Reports and DocumentsFarmers Market​Violence Prevention Programs, Partners and ResourcesMeeting Photo​Violence Data
​


​​Meet Our CDPH VPI Steering Committee Partners

About Us (PDF) 

​Contact Us
Page Last Updated :