The PHIGHT Network
Philadelphia's Hub to reduce Interpersonal violence, Gun violence, Homicide, and Trauma (PHIGHT)
The PHIGHT Network is a response from community, academic, health system, and government partners to address the roots of gun violence and its impact on victims, co-victims (surviving family members and friends), and communities in Philadelphia. It embodies a coordination of expertise, skills, and services across the public, nonprofit, and grassroots levels to collectively address the scale and complexity of gun violence in Philadelphia.
In 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia, our community experienced dramatic increases in gun violence, homicides, and victimizations. According to the Controller of the City of Philadelphia, there were 562 homicides in 2021, the highest number on record for our city. This epidemic of gun violence and other violent crime in Philadelphia means more people are in need of the support provided by social service agencies. However, these agencies have limited resources and funding and often cannot meet the level of need. The most effective way to meet the needs of our communities in the face of limited resources is to collaborate efforts with other social service agencies, anti-violence community groups, law enforcement, health systems, and other well-resourced institutions. It cannot wait, it must be now.
Part of the Community Violence Intervention Hub
Goals of The PHIGHT Network
Organized by the West/Southwest Collaborative Response to Gun Violence – which includes the Penn Injury Science Center, the Beloved Care Project, the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia, and the District Attorney’s Office Division of Victim Support Services – the PHIGHT Network’s goals are to:
Increase support services and streamline resources
for families and individuals impacted by violence
Support community resilience
by increasing community participation in violence prevention through enhancing outreach and engagement strategies
Evaluate our collective impact
in terms of the implementation and effectiveness of our strategies to reduce gun violence in Philadelphia
How to get involved
You can become a member of The PHIGHT Network by SIGNING UP FOR OUR MAILING LIST and attending our quarterly meetings to be connected to resources, opportunities, and partners, including support for evaluating the impact of your work.
(PDF files can be shared via email and includes a clickable link to join The Network)
(Image files can be sent via text or posted on social media)
The PHIGHT Network is organized by the West/Southwest Collaborative Response to Gun Violence
