Gun violence is a major public health issue and a leading cause of premature death in the United States. In December 2023, the Marion County Public Health Department hosted a call to action featuring local experts, which helped kickstart a community-wide effort to prevent/reduce gun violence.

This initiative focuses on bringing together resources across Marion County to strengthen violence prevention and reduction efforts, particularly for youth and young adults, who are most at risk to die by homicide.

This website is one of many tools the Marion County Public Health Department will use to help reduce youth gun violence in our community.

Our Mission

This Directory was created for Parents, Caretakers, and Youth to connect them with essential services and activities that address their needs. It seeks to simplify the process for families in finding support for mental health, healthcare, mentoring programs, conflict resolution, and engaging activities such as sports, STEM programs, and the arts, all of which promote stability and improve overall quality of life. These wraparound services provide comprehensive support for youth and their families.

Our Vision

We envision a future where we can prevent gun violence by offering positive outlets for youth to express their energy, creativity, and social skills. Through engaging programs in sports, arts, and STEM, along with important wraparound services like mental health support, job training, and access to food services, we aim to help young people develop skills, build community connections, and get the support they need to lead fulfilling lives.

By teaching youth about the effects of violence and promoting understanding, we strive to create a safe environment where all young people can thrive, make responsible choices, and reduce the risk of gun violence in our communities.

How do I use this directory?

Each Provider is represented through a unique profile page that includes contact information, a summary of services and/or service categories, service eligibility criteria, and the location(s) they serve.

Community members can explore resources by categories, find activities for specific dates, or browse the complete directory to understand all the types of support available.

To Search By Category:

Enter your desired term(s) into one of the site’s search bars, or
Select a category from the Categories of Care on the Resources page to explore all Providers within that category, or
Select a category from the Resources drop-down menu to navigate to that category’s hub page and explore its Providers

To Search By Date:

Visit the Activities Calendar in the main menu, page footer, or at www.endgunviolencemc.org/activities

To Explore All:

Visit the Resources page to explore all Providers and learn more about the Categories of Care.

What are the categories of care?

End Gun Violence Marion County includes providers in twelve unique service areas. These include:

To learn more about the types of services within each care category, visit our Resource page and explore the Directory.

How are the providers chosen?

We select our providers through a combination of data collection methods, including self-reporting surveys, online databases, word-of-mouth referrals, and networking. To be featured, providers must offer their services at no cost, low cost, or on a sliding scale for members of our community. Providers must be located in Marion County, nearby counties, or be willing to accept clients from Marion County.

Learn More About Us