Get
Involved
Reduce the Risk is an outreach and education effort from the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). It helps people understand the nine types of protection orders that can stop gun violence and save lives.
Even though these orders work, many people don’t know about them. A recent study showed that almost 80% of people are worried they don’t have enough information.
To help change this, Reduce the Risk is working with trusted people in local communities to share this important information. Please contact us to schedule a training or an informational session.
Protection Orders
What People Know
Reduce the Risk wants to help more people learn about protection orders.
To understand what people already know, a survey was sent to 1,000 people in California.
The survey showed…
30%
(3 out of ten)
had heard of protection order laws.
70%
knew there are laws that can take away guns from someone who wants to hurt themselves or others. But fewer people knew about the protection orders themselves.
<50%
knew that a protection order could be filed by a close friend or family member, a teacher or a police officer.
79%
said they want to learn more about protection orders.
77%
said they would consider a protection order if someone close to them was in danger.
Events & Opportunities to Get Involved
Whether it’s a community event or a professional training, real change starts with a connection. Our free training programs are designed to provide law enforcement, attorneys, healthcare providers and community leaders with the tools they need to use and teach others about how using protection orders can save lives.
Trainings for Law Enforcement and Attorneys
Law enforcement, district and city attorneys, and other judicial officials are invited to join us for a one-hour course to learn about the state’s protection orders and the process for filing GVROs. The training features remarks and stories from officials across the state highlighting the effectiveness of these life-saving tools.
Trainings for Health Care Providers
Healthcare professionals are invited to join us for a one-hour training covering the impact of California’s protection orders, with a focus on GVROs and DVROs. The training will provide information and resources to share and discuss with patients experiencing violence or a mental health crisis.
Community Advisory Councils
A research-led campaign, Reduce the Risk is guided by insights from community members throughout California, including two advisory councils: the Champions Advisory Council and the Youth Advisory Council.
Champions Advisory Council
A council of professionals who represent a wide range of experience and knowledge who assist in the development and implementation of the campaign.
Law Enforcement
Jim Cooper
Sheriff
Sacramento County
Donald O’Keefe
Chief of Law Enforcement
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Brad Welch
Chief Deputy
Law Enforcement Operations Branch
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
District Attorney’s Offices
Jeffrey Brooker
Assistant District Attorney
Imperial County District Attorney’s Office
Jeffrey F. Rosen
District Attorney
Santa Clara County
Public and Mental Health
Susan L. Holt, LMFT
Director of Behavioral Health and Public Guardian
County of Fresno Department of Behavioral Health
Mia Livas Porter
Policy Analyst and (Interim) Gun Violence Prevention Platform Lead
Los Angeles County Office of Public Health
Office of Violence Prevention
Kristynn Sullivan, PhD
Director, Merced County Department of Public Health
Garen Wintemute, MD, MPH
Director, Centers for Violence Prevention
University of California, Davis
Youth Advisory Council
A council of youth who are experienced in gun violence prevention activities who assist in implementing statewide campaign activities.
• Stephen Baker, San Diego
• Abigail Brandel, Livermore
• Gabriela Gonzales, Riverbank
• Ebony Goytia Hermosillo, Merced
• Rafael Kaye-Lew, Los Angeles
• Maxwell Martinez, Sacramento
• Jessie Rivera, Davis, CA
• Khalia Thompson, Oroville
• Sarah Youssef, San Diego
• Caroline Zdanowski, Palo Alto
Help Spread the Word!
Cal OES is working with community leaders to share information and get resources to the people who need them most.
Below are tools that can be used on social media, in newsletters, or when talking to friends, family and neighbors. Instructions are available with the content.
- Newsletter & Email Templates: Include the sample newsletter content in your regular emails to community members.
- Social Media Posts: Use any of the suggested social media copy and graphics to raise awareness on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
- Hashtags & Tags: Help expand our reach by using hashtags and tagging our official CalOES accounts.
- Website Banners: Add one of our custom Reduce the Risk website banners to your site to show support.
By sharing these materials, you can help protect your community and teach others about protection orders. Your support could help save a life.
