Date                     SAMPLE

Name
Title
Agency
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear _____________:

The State Health Department is participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), with data collection occurring at the state and local level. I would like to invite you or a representative of your agency to participate on an advisory board for the state reporting system.

The goal of this system is to capture information from multiple sources on all violent deaths. The information gathered in this system will inform police, public health officials, violence prevention groups, and policy makers in our community about the best ways to reduce violence here in (state).

To facilitate the development of the NVDRS, an advisory board is being established. The board will meet quarterly. Working meetings will be held on (days) (morning/afternoon) and will not extend beyond two hours.

The board will focus on the technical aspects of developing and implementing the reporting system. The board will be made up of individuals/organizations with experience in conducting injury reporting systems and persons representing organizations that can provide the needed data (coroners/medical examiners, law enforcement, vital records, and crime laboratories).

Please contact (name) at the State Health Department at (phone number) if you or someone from your agency is willing to serve on the advisory board. Thank you for your support and assistance.

Sincerely,

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