Implementing Secure Firearm Storage Program for Illinois Parents

The Northwestern team and other external partners recently implemented the S.A.F.E. Firearm program with promising results. As part of the largest trial of its kind, researchers identified the most effective way to implement this program in more than 47,500 well-child visits in two health systems in Michigan and Colorado (findings will soon be published). With this new funding, the teams will adapt and optimize the program for Illinois’ 55 community health centers, which have a mandate to serve all patients.

“We showed this program could be implemented in well-resourced, large health systems that use the same electronic health record system,” Beidas said. “Now we’re trying to move the spotlight to Illinois, where we’re going to partner with powerhouses in this area to bring this life-saving program to health centers that serve one in nine people in the state.”

AllianceChicago will lead data collection from the health centers and conduct follow-up surveys with parents to see if they received the program during their well-child visit and if parents change behavior in how they store their firearms, a key measure of success for the trial.

“Our community health centers can and should be on the front line to prevent gun violence” said Dr. Fred Rachman, chief executive officer of AllianceChicago. “We are excited to be partnering in this highly important initiative.”

Understanding How Parents Can Secure Firearms Given Their Constraints
Many patients served by health centers face multiple stressors including poverty and community violence, so the teams will adapt the program to fit their needs and constraints, Beidas said.

The study will enroll community health centers across the state of Illinois. IPHCA, the state association that advocates for the more than 430 health center sites across Illinois, will oversee the implementation of the secure firearm program for the study.

“This program addresses firearm violence, which the Surgeon General declared a public health crisis, head on,” said Ollie Idowu, president and chief executive officer at IPHCA. “Our 55 member organizations, who are all deeply embedded in the communities they serve, are instrumental in addressing health disparities and providing comprehensive care to underserved populations. Being a part of this impactful program is an honor and we feel confident we can make a difference across the state.”

Since IPHCA already helps these clinics implement other new programs and policies, and IDPH has a free cable-lock program for communities in Illinois, Beidas said if this trial is successful, it will be possible for the work to continue after the five-year NIH funding ends, thus saving lives in a sustainable manner.

“Firearm violence is a public health crisis that needs new, innovative solutions,” said IDPH director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “IDPH is proud to partner with Northwestern University and its collaborators on this important NIH-funded study. IDPH is pleased with the initial success of our gun lock program, and the findings of this research will be critical as public health and health care systems implement and grow evidence-based secure firearm storage programs.”