TABLE.

Implementing a Shared Risk and Protective Factor Approach to Violence Prevention: Lessons Learned From Colorado and Maryland

Identify opportunities for coordination: MDHMH’s environmental scan revealed key overlaps in state agencies’ efforts such as the same/similar populations of focus (eg, veterans) and shared risk and protective factors addressed (eg, substance abuse).

Invest time in partnership development: MDHMH convened a statewide Violence Prevention Summit to facilitate conversations and connections between state agencies across the state.

Demonstrate early applications and successes: CDPHE implemented 2 early local-level pilot projects focused on addressing shared risk and protective factors that helped demonstrate that this approach to violence prevention was possible in practice.

Measure impact on multiple outcomes: CDPHE partnered with Colorado State University to evaluate the impact of their work, across multiple programs and funding streams, on shared risk and protective factors and multiple forms of violence.

Engage in strategic planning: CDPHE developed and published a statewide violence and injury prevention strategic plan that prioritizes common risk and protective factors associated with multiple forms of injury and violence, identifies connections across injury and violence prevention programs, and outlines leverage points for coordination and achieving impact on multiple injury and violence outcomes.

Abbreviations: CDPHE, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; MDHMH, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.