The S.A.F.E. Firearm Story

The S.A.F.E. Firearm Program at KP

We are committed to scaling an evidence-based secure firearm storage program, S.A.F.E. Firearm.

S.A.F.E. (Suicide and Accident prevention through Family Education) Firearm Program was first implemented at all KP Colorado clinics in 2022 using tier 3 (below graphic) as part of a landmark study funded by National Institute of Mental Health, led by Rinad Beidas, PhD at Northwestern University.  It was adapted from the Safety Check intervention by Shari Barkin. The program in KP Northern California has begun implementation at five clinics as of May 2026. 

This universal program is for all parents of youth ages 5-17 attending a routine well-visit. Since children can encounter firearms within their own home or other places they typically spend time (e.g., grandparent’s home), the S.A.F.E. Firearm program encourages all parents to receive firearm storage counseling and be offered a cable lock. 

The program takes a harm reduction lens, training clinicians to encourage parents towards the most secure storage option they will accept. There is strong evidence that S.A.F.E. Firearm is effective in changing parent firearm storage behavior. Tested implementation strategies that result in greater uptake include: 1) reminders in the electronic medical record and 2) practice facilitation.

The figure below offers flexibility to help systems build towards a more robust implementation of the S.A.F.E. program by layering on strategies to advance reach and effectiveness. 

Why S.A.F.E?

The intervention is a 1-2 minute strategy that has resulted in KP Colorado distributing over 12,000 cable locks among 47,000 visits during the two year study. The program had high acceptability for both patients and clinicians.  Parents who received S.A.F.E Firearm were more likely to make firearms more secure. This program can reach a high volume of patients, potentially saving many lives.​

 Why focus on Firearm injury prevention?

• Firearms are the leading cause of death in the United States for U.S. youth, with about half of these deaths due to suicide suicides. (Goldstick 2022) ​
• Firearm access is a modifiable risk for injury and death. Even a modest increase in safe firearm storage could prevent up to 32% of firearm deaths in youth, including suicide. (Monuteaux 2019)​
• Pediatric primary care is a prime point for intervention because >75% of youth visit primary care in the year prior to suicide attempt. (Ruch 2024)
• Secure firearm storage interventions are not routinely delivered in pediatrics. (Beidas 2019)

Learn more about resources for clinicians 

Learn more about resources for community members