Dearborn Public Health awarded $101,570 grant to advance firearm safety and prevent injuries
Published Dec. 23, 2025
The City of Dearborn Department of Public Health (DPH) has been awarded a $101,570 grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to advance firearm safety efforts across the community. The funding will support collaborative initiatives focused on promoting responsible firearm ownership, encouraging safe handling and secure storage practices, and reducing both unintentional and intentional firearm-related injuries.
Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud stated “Firearm injury prevention is a public health and safety priority, reinforced by our Health in All Policies approach. Collaboration among public health, law enforcement, and academic partners allows us to promote safe practices, prevent injuries, and advance community health.”
Through this program, the Department of Public Health will partner with the City of Dearborn Police Department and other community stakeholders to implement data-driven community outreach and education efforts centered on firearm safety. The initiative will include distributing firearm safety kits—such as gun locks, lockboxes, and educational materials—to residents, helping ensure firearms are stored safely when not in use.
Ali Abazeed, Chief Public Health Officer for the City of Dearborn, stated, “Public health has a responsibility to intervene upstream, before injuries happen. This grant will support evidence-based education and access to safety tools that make responsible firearm storage easier and injuries less likely.”
The firearm safety grant will enable the City to distribute firearm safety kits including gun locks, lockboxes, and educational materials
City leadership emphasized that the initiative reflects Dearborn’s commitment to data-driven, collaborative programs and to building public health capacity through partnerships with academic institutions such as the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
“This award is a direct result of the talent pipeline we’ve built,” said Sara Elhasan, Public Health Advisor for the Department of Public Health. “Julia Ginter-Berriman, a firearm injury prevention fellow last year, produced rigorous, practice-ready work that directly informed and strengthened this grant proposal. Her contributions demonstrate the significant public health impact of investing in fellows.”
“Working alongside DPH allows us to engage residents through trust-based, prevention-focused outreach and provide practical resources that reduce risk before incidents occur,” said Issa Shahin, Chief of the Dearborn Police Department. “Firearm safety is a shared responsibility, and building trust through education and safe storage is essential to keeping our community safe.”
Details on community events, educational opportunities, and safety kit distribution will be available on the City of Dearborn’s website and via Dearborn DPH social media (@DearbornDPH on Facebook and Instagram).
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