Secure firearm storage in Illinois community health centers
Implementing A Secure Firearm Storage Program in Illinois Health Centers in Partnership with AllianceChicago and the Illinois Primary Health Care Association
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11143778
This project brings brief safety conversations and free cable locks to patients and families at Illinois community health centers to help keep guns stored safely.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11143778 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I visit a participating community health center, clinicians will offer a short talk about safe firearm storage and provide a free cable lock if needed. The clinics will receive training, electronic reminders in the medical record, and ongoing support so staff remember to offer the program. The team will adapt the program to fit federally qualified health centers that serve diverse and under-resourced communities and will track how often safety talks and locks are offered. This work builds on a large trial that greatly increased how often clinicians delivered the program in well-resourced systems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients and parents/caregivers who visit participating federally qualified or safety-net health centers in Illinois and who own or live with firearms.
Not a fit: People who do not visit participating clinics, do not own or live with firearms, or live outside the program area are unlikely to get direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more families could store firearms safely, which may reduce unintentional injuries and deaths among children and teens.
How similar studies have performed: A prior large trial (ASPIRE) using the same program in well-resourced health systems increased clinician delivery from about 2% to 49% of eligible pediatric visits, showing promising results.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BEIDAS, RINAD SARY — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BEIDAS, RINAD SARY
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.