Program Summary:

At present, the United States does not have a national hotline dedicated specifically to violence prevention. This leaves a significant gap in our crisis response system: there is no centralized, accessible resource for people who are worried about potential violence or for individuals seeking help to de-escalate violent thoughts before harm occurs. As a result, opportunities for early intervention are often missed, and communities are left more vulnerable than they need to be.

The National Violence Prevention Hotline is seeking funding to address this gap by offering a free, anonymous, 24/7 service where individuals can report concerns about potential violence and receive guidance from trained professionals. The hotline will focus on early intervention—helping people slow down, assess risk, and access appropriate support before situations escalate. Our goal is prevention through timely connection to crisis counseling, de-escalation support, and follow-up services when needed.

This initiative will begin as a pilot program in select regions, allowing us to evaluate effectiveness, refine protocols, and strengthen partnerships before expanding nationwide. Pilot activities will include:

• Recruitment and training: Onboarding licensed counselors and volunteers and providing specialized instruction in threat assessment, crisis response, and de-escalation.
• Protocol development: Creating evidence-based procedures to guide counselors in responding to calls, assessing risk, and determining when involvement from local emergency services is necessary.
• Collaborations: Establishing partnerships with law enforcement, schools, anti-violence organizations, and community service providers to ensure appropriate referrals and coordinated follow-up.

Awareness and education: Launching outreach efforts to build public awareness of the hotline and to educate communities about warning signs of escalating violent behavior and when to seek help.

Proposed Outcomes:

The pilot phase of the National Violence Prevention Hotline will establish a clear proof of concept. By tracking call volume, response times, de-escalation outcomes, and follow-up referrals, we will generate data demonstrating the hotline’s effectiveness and its ability to work collaboratively with existing systems. These findings will support future applications for larger grants from private foundations and government agencies.

As part of this process, we will explore opportunities to coordinate with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to ensure our services complement, rather than duplicate, existing crisis supports. Our intent is not to replace current resources, but to strengthen the overall safety net by addressing a specific and unmet need in violence prevention.

The ultimate aim of the hotline is to reduce harm by intervening during the early stages of violent behavior and responding quickly to credible concerns. The service will be available both to people worried about someone else and to individuals experiencing violent thoughts themselves. By offering support at this critical moment, the hotline can help prevent violence before it occurs, protect lives, and contribute to safer communities.

Over time, this work supports a broader vision: a future in which children and families can live without constant fear, and where systems are in place to respond early, thoughtfully, and effectively to signs of escalating violence. Early intervention makes prevention possible and prevention makes long-term safety more achievable for everyone.