Gun Violence Prevention

Gun violence curriculum and training

gun violence Intervention curriculum

FEATURED ON

Our mission is to empower educators, counselors, and community leaders with gun violence prevention tools and training. Gun violence is a leading public health crisis – for example, CDC data shows firearms became the top cause of death among U.S. children and teens in 2020–2021. In response, we offer gun violence training programs and evidence-based curricula that directly answer questions like “How do we prevent school shootings?” and “How can communities intervene before violence escalates?”. Our approach blends classroom instruction with practical exercises to address the root causes of violence in homes, schools, and neighborhoods. All content is grounded in research and real-world best practices.

Key Facts: Gun-related injuries claim over 48,000 lives in the U.S. each year. Seventy-five percent of K–12 school shooters were current or former students, and roughly 76% of youth shooters obtain firearms from home. Access to a gun makes domestic violence five times more likely to become lethal. These statistics underscore why proactive school violence prevention, gun violence intervention, and community intervention programs are urgently needed.

Our Programs: We offer a comprehensive Gun Violence Intervention Curriculum (a plug-and-play workbook program) and a Certified Gun Violence Intervention Specialist Training. These cover gun safety, conflict resolution, trauma coping, and social-emotional learning. Participants learn to de-escalate conflicts, manage anger, and create safe, supportive environments. Our goal is for every graduate to leave equipped to run gun violence prevention groups in schools, community centers, and justice programs (see below).

Why It Matters: Preventing school and community violence requires multi-faceted action. A cohesive, “whole-school” approach – where students trust staff, families are engaged, and resources are provided – is essential. We help schools implement these strategies: training staff to recognize warning signs, teaching students conflict-resolution skills, and involving families in discussions about secure gun storage. Similarly, our community violence intervention work deploys trained mentors to break cycles of retaliation in high-risk neighborhoods. By integrating these prevention and intervention efforts, we create safer environments before violence ever occurs.

ABOUT US

GunViolencePrevention.com is an initiative of The Diversion Center, a Georgia-based outpatient treatment and training organization led by Dr. Derek Collins. We specialize in evidence-informed violence prevention training and intervention programs. Our multidisciplinary team (educators, counselors, social workers, and former justice professionals) brings decades of experience in behavioral health and public safety. As a nationally recognized provider (NACATP-certified), our mission is to turn research into practical solutions: we design curricula, workbooks, and trainings that have been proven to reduce gun-related incidents and improve school climate.

Experienced Team: Our experts have extensive backgrounds in trauma-informed care, substance abuse counseling, and school safety. They develop and deliver innovative curricula like Beyond the Trigger, which uses guided group discussions to address the psychological roots of gun culture.
Proven Approach: We emphasize hands-on learning. Participants practice de-escalation and peer-support techniques in training, then immediately apply those skills in their schools or communities. For example, our training uses cognitive-behavioral tools and social-emotional learning that resonate with youth in high-risk environments.
Partnerships: We collaborate with schools, law enforcement, community centers, and justice agencies. Our programs complement existing safety initiatives—whether it’s helping implement school-wide threat assessment teams or integrating community “violence interrupters” into outreach efforts.
Our Impact: By equipping professionals with our gun violence curriculum and certifications, we empower them to “provide innovative treatment that inspires change” in their own neighborhoods. Together, we strive to end the cycle of violence before it begins.

Gun Violence intervention specialist Training

We offer a Certified Gun Violence Intervention Specialist training – a 2-day intensive course for professionals working with youth. This gun violence training program is open to educators, school counselors, social workers, probation officers, mentors, and community leaders. The curriculum covers:

Root Causes: Understanding the social, emotional, and cultural factors that drive gun violence (e.g. trauma, peer pressure, street culture).

De-Escalation Skills: Conflict resolution, anger management, and communication strategies to defuse violent situations.

Intervention Techniques: How to run psychoeducational group sessions using our curriculum; building trust and empathy with at-risk youth.

Safety Practices: Gun safety and secure storage education; creating school and home plans that reduce access to firearms for youth.

Upon completion, participants become certified to facilitate our gun violence prevention groups. This training has a proven track record: it “equips counselors, teachers, social workers, and nonprofit leaders with everything they need to implement violence intervention programs in their communities”. Graduates leave with both practical experience and a nationally recognized certificate, ready to lead change.

What You Will Learn

Emotional Regulation: Strategies to help teens manage anger, grief, and stress.

Supportive Environments: How to foster school and community settings where students feel safe speaking up.

Curriculum Delivery: Hands-on practice using our gun violence workbook in a group setting (classroom or community center).

Conflict resolution techniques to de-escalate violent situations.

Emotional regulation strategies to help individuals manage anger and stress.

How to create safe, supportive environments in schools, communities, and correctional facilities.

Gun Violence Intervention Curriculum (Workbook)

Our Gun Violence Intervention Curriculum is a structured, evidence-informed workbook program for educators and mentors. Designed by experts, this curriculum provides a full set of ready-to-use lessons and activities that engage youth in meaningful discussions about violence prevention. Key features:

Modular Lessons: Covers topics like Gun Safety Basics, Avoiding Triggers, Assertiveness, Dealing with Bullies, and Warning Signs.

Holistic Content: Integrates social-emotional learning with violence prevention – including coping skills (trauma, PTSD, mood management), self-esteem building, and healthy decision-making.

Family and Community Focus: Addresses family dynamics (domestic violence, family drama) and real-world challenges (social media use, accountability, professional development).

Plug-and-Play: Easy to implement. Training is recommended to ensure fidelity.

Research backs this approach: our curriculum goes “beyond fear-based messaging” by using psychoeducation and open dialogue to help participants understand why young people may pick up guns in the first place. Educators and counselors who use it report deeper student engagement and increased awareness of prevention strategies. The curriculum has been field-tested with schools and community programs for maximum impact.

Become a Gun Violence Intervention Specialist

Gun violence among youth is a growing concern, and now more than ever, communities need dedicated professionals who are equipped to intervene and prevent this violence before it escalates. The Gun Intervention Specialist Training, offered by The Diversion Center, is a comprehensive, 2-day program designed to certify professionals to lead impactful, gun violence prevention psychoeducation groups that reduce gun violence and promote safer communities.

About the Training

This two-day intensive training program is structured to give participants the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experience needed to tackle gun violence effectively.

Join the waitlist! Hear experts cover key topics such as understanding the root causes of gun violence, bullying, social emotional learning, and more.

Participants will leave with the confidence and certification needed to facilitate gun violence prevention groups in schools, community centers, and justice involved programs.

Get Involved

Curriculum Key Topics

Gun Safety Basics, Conflict Resolution, Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Avoiding Triggers, Assertiveness, Retaliation, Street Cred, Dealing With Bullies, Warning Signs
Family Drama, Cognitive Distortions, Trauma, PTSD, Mood Management, Self-Esteem, Denial, Stages of Change, Self-Care, Belief and Self Image, Living by Principles, Forgiveness
Validation, Social Media and Digital Safety, Consequences of Violence, Self-Awareness, Credit, Personal Budget, Professional Development, Accountability, Gratitude and More.
Easy to implement (plug-and-play workbook). Training is available.

Training Schedule

DAY 1

Information and Key TopicS Review

This training is designed for counselors, educators, social workers, and community leaders aiming to build safer environments.

In the first section of this training, we will dive deep into the following essential topics:

Understanding Gun Violence: A comprehensive exploration of gun violence, its root causes, and its profound impacts on youth and communities.
Types of Gun Violence: A breakdown of the various forms of gun violence, from interpersonal incidents to mass shootings.
Root Causes: Understanding the underlying factors, including social, psychological, and economic influences contributing to gun violence.
Community Impact: Analyzing how gun violence affects individuals, families, and neighborhoods, fostering a deeper appreciation for prevention and intervention strategies.

DAY 2

Intervention

During the second section of this training, participants will shift to intervention strategies using the gun violence curriculum. The intervention curriculum will focus on the following topics:

Street Cred, Validation, Acceptance, Judgment, Retaliation, Manipulation
Trauma, Self-Esteem, PTSD, Mood Management, Social Emotional Learning
Domestic Violence, Family Drama, Anger Management, Conflict Resolution
Gun Safety, Secure Storage, Social Media, Decision Making, Professional Development and More

School Violence Prevention & Intervention

Preventing gun-related incidents in schools requires a proactive, school-wide strategy. Experts agree “comprehensive strategies are required to prevent school shootings”, combining policy, education, and community support. We help schools build that strategy:

Supportive School Climate: We train staff to create a trusting environment where students feel safe to talk and report concerns. For example, research notes that a cohesive, respectful climate (where students trust teachers and families are involved) is “key to preventing school shootings”.
Staff Training: Workshops for teachers and administrators on warning signs of violent ideation, secure entry protocols, and student referral processes. As CDC states, violence prevention is a team effort – when teachers, parents, and community members act together, school environments become markedly safer.
Student Programs: Curriculum modules on conflict resolution, empathy, anti-bullying, and decision-making. We emphasize that most school shooters are known to peers or staff, so every student is encouraged to speak up.
Parent/Family Engagement: We educate families about safe firearm storage and early communication. Notably, a Secret Service analysis found ~76% of youth shooters got guns from home. We help schools partner with parents to secure weapons and recognize mental health needs.

By integrating these elements, schools reduce the factors that lead to violence. Our school programs align with CDC recommendations for multi-level prevention (addressing individual behavior and community factors). Case studies show that when schools invest in social-emotional learning and threat assessment, incidents can be significantly reduced.

Community Violence Intervention

Community violence intervention (CVI) is a proven public health approach for reducing gun violence in neighborhoods plagued by shootings. As Johns Hopkins notes, CVI programs focus on those most at risk of committing or being victimized by gun violence. We support cities and organizations in implementing these strategies:

Credible Messengers: Train community members (often formerly involved youth or ex-offenders) to mediate conflicts and mentor high-risk individuals. These “violence interrupters” use their life experience to defuse retaliation cycles and change norms around gun use.
Focused Deterrence: Collaborate with law enforcement and social services to target chronic offenders. Leaders advise at-risk groups that violence will have swift consequences, while also offering them jobs, education, and counseling. This balanced strategy has cut violent crime by roughly 30% on average.
Hospital & Outreach Programs: Partner with local hospitals and nonprofits. For example, hospital-based intervention programs engage victims of shootings to discourage reprisal. Research on Baltimore’s Safe Streets (a CVI model) found sustained homicide reductions of 16–23% in key neighborhoods.
Wraparound Supports: Provide case management, job training, and therapy for participants. Programs like Roca and Advance Peace (studied by researchers) combine cognitive-behavioral sessions with social services to change life trajectories.

Our CVI projects are community-informed. We work with local stakeholders to tailor interventions (e.g. gang outreach, gun buyback events, urban improvement) and use ongoing evaluation to adapt. The evidence is clear: communities that invest in comprehensive intervention partnerships see gun violence decline. We help leaders leverage these proven methods to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.

Who Should Attend?

This program is ideal for professionals who work with youth and are committed to preventing gun violence in their communities, including:

Gun violence and social-emotional learning Resources

Prevention Makes a Difference

Book a call to learn how you can make an impact

Join us for this much needed training program and help prevent gun violence. Together, we can create safer environments for youth and help prevent gun violence before it starts.

For training requests and workbook orders:
Email info@thediversioncenter.com