For more information about what data is available for request, click here.
The Los Angeles County Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), housed within the Department of Public Health, works to strengthen coordination, capacity and partnerships to address the root causes of violence, and to advance policies and practices that are grounded in race equity, to prevent all forms of violence and to promote healing across all communities in Los Angeles County.
OVP monitors the trends and circumstances of violent deaths affecting Los Angeles County to inform decision makers and program planners about ways to prevent and intervene on violence in the community, at home and in the workplace.
Each June, communities across the country observe Gun Violence Awareness Month to honor survivors, raise awareness about the impact of gun violence on our communities and promote prevention efforts.
Gun Violence Awareness Month and The Wear Orange Campaign were inspired by the memory of Chicago student Hadiya Pendleton who was killed by gun violence just two weeks after marching in President Obama’s second inaugural parade. Hadiya’s friends commemorated her life and brought attention to gun violence by wearing bright orange, the color hunters wear for safety. Today, Wear Orange has grown into a nationwide movement.
Recent acts of gun violence highlight the urgency of this issue. In 2026 alone, there have been 121 mass shootings in the United States. In April, a Louisiana man shot and killed seven of his children and another child while also wounding his wife. In May, three people were killed during a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Gun violence remains a significant public health issue in the United States which is reflected in national and local data. In 2024, over 44,000 people across the country died from gun-related injuries.1 For every firearm death, two more people are shot and survive their injuries,2 and since 2019, firearms have been the leading cause of death for children and teens nationwide.3
Here in Los Angeles, the data also reflects this sober national picture:
In 2024, there were 728 firearm-related deaths among Los Angeles County residents.4
In 2024, 2,089 Los Angeles County residents were hospitalized or treated in emergency departments for firearm injuries.5
There was an estimated $8.2 billion in economic costs from firearm homicides and hospitalized assaults, including both direct (medical care, law enforcement) and indirect (loss of life, productivity) costs.6
In almost 1 out of 3 Los Angeles County households where firearms are present, they are not stored securely.7
The LA County Board of Supervisors is bringing awareness to gun violence and the harm done to our communities by their May 19th board motion proclaiming:
June 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Month
June 5, 2026 as Gun Violence Awareness Day and
June 5-9 as Wear Orange Weekend
And, in partnership with county and community partners, the Department of Public Health's Office of Violence Prevention is actively working to prevent gun violence through the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative. This work adheres to best practices to prevent gun violence by promoting education and training which is critical to preventing gun violence. OVP regularly conducts countywide community presentations and trainings on gun safety strategies as well as education on gun safety tools and resources while expanding access to gun safety locks across the county. To date, OVP’s Gun Safety Team has been involved in nearly 100 outreach events and trainings, reaching an estimated 11,000 attendees.
OVP also partners with local organizations including county libraries, healthcare providers, veteran agencies, and community-based programs to promote safe storage and increase awareness of prevention tools. OVP’s GVRO System Navigators also provide education on Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs), a legal tool that temporarily removes firearms from individuals at risk of harming themselves or others and are available to assist those navigating systems to secure a GVRO. To learn more or request support from OVP’s Gun Violence Prevention Team, please reach out to DPH-OVP_GunSafety@ph.lacounty.gov or 626-293-2610.
Gun violence is preventable, and we all have a role to play in preventing gun violence. Here are specific actions you can take right now to build safer environments for your children, your friends and family members and for your communities:
Practice and promote safe firearm storage. Ask your friends and family whether there are unsecured guns in their home.
Keep firearms safely stored and keep ammunition locked separately.
Know the facts about firearm safety and become a community voice against gun violence. Educate yourself about gun violence restraining orders and other legal tools to prevent firearm violence.
Advocate for federal gun safety legislation including the reinstatement of the federal ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines and a federal law mandating universal background checks for all gun sales.
Normalize talking about gun safety, including safe firearm storage with friends and family. Support those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis by asking if they have access to a gun, sharing information about Gun Violence Restraining Orders, and offering 988 as a violence prevention tool.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2024 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2026. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10-expanded.html on May 14, 2026.
[2] https://everytownresearch.org/graph/nonfatal-firearm-injury-rate-by-state/
[3] Nance, Michael L., et al. "Evolution of Firearm Mortality as the Leading Cause of Death in the US Pediatric Population." JAMA pediatrics 180.1 (2026): 110-112.
[4] Los Angeles County Annual 2024 Data File, assembled from California Department of Public Health Vital Records Data. Office of Health Assessment ∓ Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
[5] California Department of Public Health. EpiCenter California Injury Data Online. Accessed 5/14/2026. Available: https://skylab4.cdph.ca.gov/epicenter
[6] Everytown for Gun Safety’s Cost Calculator and Los Angeles county homicide and assault data, using estimated costs for California; Available here: https://everytownresearch.org/report/economic-cost-calculator/. Accessed 5/14/2026.
[7] 2023 Los Angeles County Health Survey; Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Intimate partner violence impacts many of Los Angeles County’s youth. According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, during 2021, 7.3% of high school students in LAUSD reported experiencing sexual dating violence in the past year and 5.7% reported experiencing physical dating violence.2 Among young adults ages 18-24, the 2023 Los Angeles County Health Survey found that 8.3% reported ever experiencing physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner.3
Beliefs about relationships, respect and boundaries are often formed during adolescence. By engaging young people early, we can prevent unhealthy relationship patterns and encourage respect, consent an open communication.
To support this goal, OVP developed the Check for Respect Teen Dating Violence Prevention Toolkit, a resource designed to help teens and young adults recognize the signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships. It also provides guidance for adults who work with youth to help them recognize when a young person may be in an unsafe relationship and how to connect them with support.
The toolkit includes a poster, postcard, handout and stickers that educate about respect, consent and boundaries in dating relationships. OVP developed the toolkit in collaboration with county departments and youth-serving organizations.
2. 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available: https://nccd.cdc.gov/Youthonline/App/Default.aspx. Accessed 5/22/2023. 3. 2023 Los Angeles County Health Survey; Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Recent actions by immigration enforcement agents have caused fear and anxiety in communities across Los Angeles County. The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) stands in solidarity with immigrant communities during this time of uncertainty and upheaval. We are committed to upholding the core principles of public health, including equity, compassion, promoting wellbeing, and preventing harm by supporting communities across Los Angeles County regardless of their immigration status.
Detention, deportation and threat of deportation affect undocumented people, their children and family members who are often legal residents, anyone perceived to be an immigrant based on skin color or other factors, people with whom they share communities or schools, and our broader society. The health of our communities cannot be upheld, promoted, or protected when our immigrant and refugee communities are in fear of being detained and deported.
Now is the time to come together, speak up, and support each other. We are here. We care. And we will keep working side by side with our communities to ensure that every person and community is treated with human dignity. Towards this end OVP will continue to share information and resources with all immigrant populations and with our community partners; create and support healing spaces and venues; and support those on the frontlines to facilitate access to resources.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center: Red Cards inform how people can assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when immigration agents go to a home.
California Collaborative For Immigrant Justice
CCIJ utilizes coordination, advocacy, and legal services to fight for the liberation of immigrants in detention in California. CCIJ uses legal and advocacy initiatives, data and reporting, public health and immigrant detention and campaigns for liberation to strengthen and guide both grassroots and statewide efforts.
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
CHIRLA's Workers' Rights and Labor Legal Services Department works at the intersection of immigration law and employment law. Access immigration legal services for students, deportation defense, family immigration and unity, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Detention Support
What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration
To locate a loved one that has been detained for more than 48 hours, visit the ICE Online Detainee Locator System.Please note: Online Detainee Locator System cannot search for records of persons under the age of 18.
LAUSD Parent and Family Academy Webinar Recording: Know Your Rights essential updates, real-life vignettes, and a family preparedness plan. English | Español
The Mobile Immigrant Services Clinic provides free, in-language support to immigrants experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity across LA County.
Provide emergency childcare, food, and transportation.
Shop for their groceries or run errands for them if they do not feel safe leaving their homes. Visit FREE food distributions at DPH Wellness Centers and offer to pick it up for them.
Help cover rent, utilities, or lost income.
Connect folks to legal aid and help gather vital documents.
Encourage and assist them make plans for what to do when a family member is displaced.
Offer mental health support, healing circles, and spaces to feel safe again.
Keep showing up! - Organize, advocate, and amplify their stories.
Medi-Cal & Personal Data
There are reports that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may have shared personal data, including immigration status, of Medi-Cal members with the Department of Homeland Security. The State of California has been attempting to verify if this occurred but has been unable to do so at this point. Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) continues to administer the Medi-Cal program, which provides health care access to over 3.4 million residents across Los Angeles County.
DPSS suggests customers consider a few things:
Eligibility rules for Medi-Cal and other DPSS-administered programs have not changed. If any changes do occur, you will be notified.
DPSS services are available remotely. You can reach them at 866-613-3777, or through the BenefitsCal website.
Familiarize yourself with the Know Your Rights materials they have distributed on social media platforms and at our public offices.
My Tree of Pride/Nuestro Árbol del Orgullo: A gentle art activity for children and kids at heart to celebrate their roots, express their dreams, and reclaim joy—especially in the face of anti-immigrant messages that can weigh on their hearts.
It’s okay if you’re feeling confused, scared, or unsure.
Do you want to talk about what’s happening?
Some people in our country are being taken away from their homes because of where they were born, where their families are from, or how they got here.
Families are being separated, and this is hurting a lot of people - including kids just like you.
This is not okay, and it is not how these issues are supposed to be handled. Everyone deserves to feel safe, to be with their families, and to have a place to call home.
There are many reasons why someone might come to this country. Most people want to create a beautiful life for themselves and their families, just like we do.
You may have heard the word ICE, which stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is the law enforcement agency that comes to send people away.
Many of our community members are working hard to protect people and keep everyone safe. Many people are raising their voices to speak up for change.
People like me are here to help keep you safe and informed. You can always ask questions. You can always talk to me.
It’s okay to feel big feelings about this. Scared. Mad. Confused. You are not alone.
You can help by learning, listening, and speaking up for what is right. Every voice matters - including yours.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention, in partnership with Southern California Grantmakers, is excited to announce 12 community-based organizations that have been selected to receive funding as part of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Community Grant. This represents the first time Los Angeles County has allocated funding of this scale, $2 million, for GBV prevention efforts. Awardees were selected through a competitive review process and represent a diverse and dynamic group of organizations committed to advancing GBV prevention, healing, and safety across Los Angeles County.
We sincerely thank all the organizations that applied and recognize the time, care, and commitment that went into each proposal. The overwhelming response to this opportunity reflects the depth of work happening across our communities to end GBV. We are honored to collaborate with these trusted organizations and other county and communities partners to advance this vital work.
The following organizations will lead innovative efforts across four strategic focus areas:
Healthy Relationships Education & Training
Alma Family Services (Supervisorial District 1)
$200,000
Inner City Visions (Supervisorial District 2)
$174,555
Haven Hills (Supervisorial District 3)
$119,047
Interval House (Supervisorial District 4)
$200,000
Child & Family Center (Supervisorial District 5)
$200,000
Engaging Men & Boys
Jail Guitar Doors
$199,993
The Prism Way
$173,837
LGBTQ+ Youth Leaders
Latino Equality Alliance
$165,883
Men's Health Foundation
$145,240
Minority AIDS Project
$164,922
Economic Empowerment for Women & Girls
Maternal & Child Health Access
$112,167
Sanctuary of Hope
$99,501
OVP supports the County’s LA vs. Hate Initiative led by the Human Relations Commission in collaboration with community partners. LA vs Hate is a community-centered creative campaign to encourage and support all residents of Los Angeles County to unite against, report, and resist hate.
If you are the victim, or witness of, a hate incident or hate crime you can report the incident/crime with 211 LA. Your report is confidential and 211 is not affiliated with law enforcement.
After extensive review and input, the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) Early Implementation Strategic Plan was adopted by the County Leadership Committee and Community Partnership Council in September 2020. Read more about OVP Early Implementation Strategic Plan here.
The OVP Strategic Plan is a live document and we welcome your ongoing feedback, specifically as it pertains to our priorities, goals, objectives and strategies. Please provide your input by sending an email to ovp@ph.lacounty.gov or email Andrea Welsing, OVP Director, directly at awelsing@ph.lacounty.gov. We hope you will provide your thoughts, comments and recommendations for the Strategic Plan and that you will continue to be part of our violence prevention and healing efforts as we work together to advance strategies to prevent violence and promote healing.
