This post is grounded in a recent open-access article in the American Journal of Public Health titled “Firearm Violence Prevention in Peril: Protecting Our Progress in Public Health.” The article issues an urgent call: the gains we’ve made in reducing firearm injuries and deaths are now at risk, and this is a moment when school nurses must act.
Read the open-access article here: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308231
As school nurses, we see the ripple effects of violence every day: the fear in a student’s eyes, the trauma carried quietly in their bodies, and the parents who ask, “Is my child safe?”
We are witnesses, caregivers, and advocates. We stand at the intersection of health, education, and community. We are trusted by families and positioned to see the big picture. And right now, that picture is shifting in deeply concerning ways.
A Fragile Victory
In recent years, we’ve seen glimpses of hope.
Youth homicide rates have declined, thanks to community-based violence prevention initiatives, expanded access to mental health care, and evidence-based safety policies. These successes were not accidents—they were built through research, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to protecting young lives.
But these gains are fragile. Recent disruptions in federal funding threaten to undo years of progress. Cuts to firearm injury research, community outreach, and victim support programs will leave the most vulnerable—especially students in marginalized or under-resourced communities—without the lifelines they depend on.
When prevention funding disappears, so do the stories of recovery and resilience that follow it. And when that happens, it’s school nurses who see the consequences first.
The View from the Health Office
Every day, we open our doors to more than scraped knees and stomachaches.
We care for students who flinch at loud noises, who whisper about violence at home or in their neighborhoods, who carry emotional wounds invisible to most adults around them.
We patch, we comfort, and we listen. But our role must go beyond reaction—it must include prevention and advocacy. Because if we don’t raise our voices for children’s safety, who will?
Here’s how we can act now, before this moment of uncertainty becomes a lasting setback.
1. Advocate for Sustained Funding
Your voice matters. Write, call, or meet with your local, state, and federal representatives. Tell them what you see in your school health office. Explain how research and prevention funding translates directly into safer schools and healthier children.
When we connect policy decisions to the lived experiences of our students, we give the data meaning. Use your professional perspective and your everyday experiences—they are powerful tools for change.
Action idea: Collaborate with your state school nurse association or public health coalition to draft a collective letter or policy brief. Amplify your message through professional platforms or social media networks. Here’s an example of letter-writing for advocacy.
2. Implement Screening and Referral
Even brief, trauma-informed screenings can help identify students experiencing violence exposure or emotional distress. Maintain and routinely update referral lists for school counselors, community mental health providers, and local crisis centers.
Here is access to slides from an important webinar presented in August 2025 through Rush University College of Nursing, summer bootcamp: School Nurses and Staff on the Frontline: Caring for Youth & Communities Affected by Firearm Violence
Partner with trusted community organizations that can provide ongoing care. Remember—referrals should be warm handoffs, not just phone numbers on a sheet of paper. Healing begins with connection and trust.
3. Educate on Injury Prevention
Firearm safety is part of injury prevention, and injury prevention is part of nursing care. Integrate safety discussions into your health education and parent outreach.
Use nonjudgmental, supportive language when discussing safe firearm storage and risk reduction. You’re not there to lecture—you’re there to protect and inform.
Pair firearm safety education with broader injury prevention efforts (seatbelts, poison prevention, safe sleep) to normalize the conversation and reduce stigma.
4. Build and Strengthen Partnerships
Violence prevention requires collaboration.
Work alongside teachers, counselors, social workers, law enforcement, and public health agencies to create a coordinated, trauma-informed response.
As nurses, we can serve as the bridge that connects these efforts, ensuring that every student has access to safety, support, and care.
5. Center Student and Community Voices
Students and families know their own experiences best. Their voices must help shape prevention initiatives and school safety policies.
Invite student leaders and parent groups to participate in decision-making. When those most affected are included in the process, solutions become more equitable, relevant, and effective.
6. Stay Informed and Visible
The landscape of firearm policy and public health funding changes rapidly. Stay informed, stay connected, and stay engaged.
Read current research, follow updates from organizations like the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), Brady United, and Everytown for Gun Safety, and share credible resources with your colleagues and community. Links are included in the resources shared at the end of this blog post.
Use your professional networks, social media, and school communication channels to elevate awareness and promote evidence-based strategies.
Remember: Visibility is advocacy. Every story you share, every post you write, and every conversation you start contributes to the movement for safer schools.
A Call to Action
The disruption of firearm violence prevention efforts is more than a policy issue—it’s a public health emergency. As school nurses, we cannot remain silent while essential research and prevention programs are dismantled.
We are the steady presence in our schools.
We hold space for healing, offer comfort during crises, and build trust that supports resilience. We remind our students that their lives matter—and that their safety is a shared responsibility.
When funding fades, when prevention programs are cut, when attention drifts elsewhere—our advocacy must remain constant. Because every student we care for carries a story. And every story deserves a future free from the fear of violence.
Moving Forward Together
Let’s use our collective power to protect progress, preserve prevention, and strengthen the movement for schools where every child feels safe enough to learn, grow, and dream. Investment in prevention is not optional—it’s an act of compassion and a promise to the generations that follow.
Let’s keep that promise.
Further Reading and Resources
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AJPH (open access): “Firearm Violence Prevention in Peril: Protecting Our Progress in Public Health” — DOI link
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National Association of School Nurses (NASN): Position Statement—Safe and Supportive Schools
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Brady United: End Family Fire Initiative
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Everytown for Gun Safety: Understanding Gun Violence in America
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