The Legislature created OFSVP in 2020 (Ch. 43.330A RCW). The responsibilities of the office include:

• Creating and maintaining a network of community intervention and reduction programs across the state
• Developing best practice guidance and providing technical assistance
• Identifying promising practices within Washington or in other states or countries, and supporting efforts to scale up or replicate those practices across the state
• Convening gatherings and hosting training to bring together state and national experts and community participants
• Identifying steps to improve the availability and quality of firearm data in Washington through information collection and data sharing.
• Identifying and administering state, federal and private funding for grant programs focused on reducing firearm violence in Washington communities
• Issuing a bi-annual report and policy recommendations to policymakers.

In the time since this statewide office was launched, OFSVP has made strategic investments in evidenced-based violence reduction strategies across the state. The office has collaborated closely with subject matter experts within the state and nationally to ensure our efforts are keeping up with unprecedented research and understanding of the causes of firearm violence and emerging strategies to achieve reductions.

OFSVP works hand-in-hand with policymakers, public health officials, government entities, law enforcement agencies, researchers, community organizations and individual community members. We prioritize building violence prevention and intervention capacity through engagement, outreach and technical assistance, and using data validated by our community partners to inform funding decisions.

OFSVP funds three types of violence reduction strategies: intervention, prevention and planning. 

1. Intervention strategies are more immediate and interface with the populations and communities at highest risk for being victims or perpetrators of firearm violence. 
2. Prevention strategies have a broader reach and touch at risk populations who may not yet – but could be anticipated to be – engaged in firearm violence. 
3. Planning strategies are designed to bring community partners together to create and implement a plan for culturally-relevant, sustainable strategies that respond to specific local needs.