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WELCOME TO CDC PUBLIC HEALTH GRAND ROUNDS ON PREVENTING YOUTH
VIOLENCE. CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH GRAND ROUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PHYSICIANS,
NURSES, PHARMACISTS, HEALTH EDUCATORS AND OTHERS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONSULT THE GRAND ROUNDS
WEBSITE. GRAND ROUNDS IS ALSO AVAILABLE
ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
WE HAVE A FEATURED SEGMENT ON YOUTUBE CALLED BEYOND THE DATA
POSTED SHORTLY AFTER THE SESSION.
PARTNERED WITH THE CDC PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION CENTER TO
PUBLISH ARTICLES. FULL LISTING AVAILABLE AT
CDC.GOV/SCIENCECLIPS. HERE IS A PREVIEW OF SESSIONS.
IN ADDITION TO TODAY'S FEATURED SPEAKERS I WOULD LIKE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SESSION OF
THE INDIVIDUALS LISTED HERE. AND BEFORE OUR SESSION BEGINS I
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE CDC DIRECTOR DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH. THANKS TO THE SPEAKERS HERE WE
APPRECIATE YOUR PARTNERSHIP AND THE CREATIVITY BROUGHT ON THIS
IMPORTANT TOPIC. RECENTLY I MET A YOUNG WOMAN WHO
IS IN THE TEACH FOR AMERICA PROGRAM HERE IN ATLANTA.
SHE IS FROM A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY.
BOTH HER PARENTS ARE EDUCATED. SHE HAPPENS TO BE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND TEACHING KINDERGARTEN IN AN INNER CITY
SCHOOL HERE IN ATLANTA. TO TRY TO GET STUDENTS MORE
ENGAGED SHE ASKED THEM ALL TO THINK ABOUT ONE THING THAT THEY
WISH THEY COULD CHANGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND SHE THOUGHT THIS WOULD HELP GET THEM INVOLVED.
AND CHILD AFTER CHILD AND THIS KINDERGARTEN SAID I WISH THERE
WERE FEWER GUN SHOTS BECAUSE IT SCARES MY YOUNGER BROTHER OR MY
YOUNGER SISTER. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO COMFORT MY
YOUNGER BROTHER AND SISTER WHEN THEY GET SCARED WHEN WE HEAR THE
GUN SHOTS. THAT'S THE REALITY OF TOO MANY
CHILDREN GROWING UP IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE'LL HEAR GRIM FACTS ON VU
YOUTH VIOLENCE BUT WILL HEAR HOPEFUL SIGNS THAT WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE. VIOLENCE WE KNOW NOT ONLY LEAVES
THE VICTIMS WHO ARE THE DIRECT VICTIMS BUT ALSO HAS AN ENORMOUS
IMPACT ON FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, AN IMPACT THAT
CONTINUES NOT ONLY FOR MONTHS AND YEARS, BUT POTENTIALLY FOR
GENERATIONS.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT YOUTH VIOLENCE IS FAR TOO BIG A PROBLEM IN FAR
TOO MANY PARTS OF SOCIETY. WE CONTINUE TO SEE HOW 5,000
YOUNG PEOPLE PER YEAR AS VICTIMS OF HOMICIDE.
THAT WOULD FILL 17 AUDITORIUMS IN THE SIZE WE ARE STANDING IN
TODAY. WE ALSO KNOW THAT NONFATAL
VIOLENCE WHETHER FIGHTING OR BULLYING OR GANG VIOLENCE IS A
SERIOUS PROBLEM AND IT CAN CHILDREN AFRAID TO GO TO SCHOOL
AND ASSOCIATED WITH CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS TOBACCO
USE, ASTHMA, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, *** RISK BEHAVIOR,
OBESITY. OVER THE PAST DECADE WE HAVE
BEEN LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE PATTERNS OF YOUTH
VIOLENCE AND HOW TO PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE.
THERE ARE APPROACHES THAT CAN BE APPLIED AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL,
SCHOOL LEVEL AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY LEVEL.
PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE
AN IMPORTANT TOOL TO KEEP KIDS SAFE.
BUT PREVENTING YOUTH VIOLENCE ISN'T EASY.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TARGET THOSE COMMUNITIES AT
GREATEST RISK, HOW TO TARGET THOSE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE THE
GREATEST POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND HOW TO DOCUMENT AND
SCALE UP THOSE APPROACHES. YOU WILL HEAR A REALLY EXCELLENT
SET OF TALKS THIS AFTERNOON FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES THAT ALL APPROACH THE FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGE OF
PREVENTING YOUTH VIOLENCE. AND HOLD REAL HOPE THAT THERE
WILL BE SUCCESS AND PROGRESS. AND I DO THINK WE HAVE LOTS OF
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ARC OF
HISTORY, YOUTH VIOLENCE, VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUTH, VIOLENCE
IN OUR SOCIETIES IS DECLINING STEADILY AND RECEDING INTO
SMALLER AND SMALLER AREAS AND IS SOMETHING WHICH ULTIMATELY WILL
BECOME LESS AND LESS COMMON. OUR GOAL, OUR MISSION, IS TO
ACCELERATE THAT PROGRESS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER TODAY IS DR. HOWARD SPIVAK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HOWARD SPIVAK.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
I'M GOING TO START THE ROUNDS TODAY BY EXPLAINING WHY YOUTH
VIOLENCE IS A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A STORY OF ONE TEENAGER I MET.
17-YEAR-OLD TONYA HAD BEEN TO MORE FUNERAL THAN DANCES, 16
THAT SHE COULD RECALL, ALL CHILDREN, FAMILY MEMBERS,
FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, CLASSMATES. SHE MADE THIS ALMOST
UNBELIEVABLE COMMENT DURING AN INTERVIEW I WAS CONDUCTING FOR A
PUBLIC TELEVISION DOCUMENTARY ON YOUTH VIOLENCE.
TONYA WAS 8 WHEN HER OLDER BROTHER WAS SHOT DURING AN
ARGUMENT WITH ANOTHER TEENAGER FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
A YEAR LATER HER COUSIN WAS STABBED TO DEATH IN AN ARGUMENT
AT A BARBERSHOP OVER WHO WAS NEXT IN LINE FOR A HAIRCUT.
AN 11-YEAR-OLD NEIGHBOR WAS CAUGHT IN CROSS FIRE WHILE
SAYING GOOD BYE TO HER FRIENDS. SHE WAS MOVING THE NEXT MORNING
TO SOUTH CAROLINA TO LIVE WITH HER GRANDMOTHER.
TWO CLASSMATES WERE KILLED WHILE RIDING THEIR BIKES THROUGH A
PARK. AND SO IT WENT, THE NUMBER OF
DEATHS THIS YOUNG GIRL EXPERIENCED IS TRULY TRAGIC.
BUT THE BIGGER TRAGEDY IS THAT TONYA'S EXPERIENCE IS FAR FROM
UNIQUE. AT THE TIME A COLLEAGUE AND I
WERE TRAVELING THE COUNTRY VISITING INNER CITY HIGH SCHOOLS
WHEN WE ASKED A CLASS OR AN AUDITORIUM FILLED WITH STUDENTS
WHO KNEW SOMEBODY WHO HAD BEEN MURDERED EVERY HAND WOULD GO UP.
WHEN ASKED WHO HAD LOST A FAMILY MEMBER TO HOMICIDE, A HALF OR
MORE OF THE HANDS WOULD REMAIN IN THE AIR.
THIS IS LIFE FOR CHILDREN GROWING UP IN INNER CITIES.
WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND THAT YOUTH CAN BE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT THE ONES WHO ARE HURT OR KILLED.
THEY CAN ALSO BE PERPETRATORS. AND THE LINE BETWEEN VICTIMS AND
PERPETRATORS CAN SOMETIMES BE BLURRED AS THE CIRCUMSTANCES CAN
VARY WIDELY. VIOLENCE SPANS A WIDE SPECTRUM
OF EVENTS IN HOW IT COMES. HOMICIDE IS THE THIRD LEADING
CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AGE 10 TO 24 AND IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE DEATHS THAN THE NEXT SIX LEADING CAUSES OF
DEATH IN THE AGE GROUP COMBINED. HOMICIDE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF
DEATH OF YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES IN THIS COUNTRY, ON
AVERAGE 13 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THIS AGE GROUP ARE MURDERED EACH DAY.
MALES AND RACIAL ETHNIC MINORITY YOUTH EXPERIENCE THE GREATEST
BURDEN FROM YOUTH VIOLENCE. HOMICIDE RATES ARE MORE THAN SIX
TIMES HIGHER AMONG YOUNG MEN THAN YOUNG WOMEN AND 14 TIMES
HIGHER FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN YOUTHS AND FOUR TIMES HIGHER FOR
HISPANIC YOUTHS RELATIVE TO NON-HISPANIC WHITE YOUTH.
EVERY DAY AN AVERAGE OF OVER 1,700 YOUTH AGED 10 TO 24 ARE
TREATED IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR ASSAULT-RELATED INJURIES.
IN 2012 A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 600,000 YOUNG PEOPLE WERE
TREATED IN U.S. FOR SUCH INJURIES.
DATA ON HOMICIDES AND INJURIES TREATED IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS
DO NOT TELL THE ENTIRE STORY ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH
VIOLENCE IS HARMING OUR YOUTH. DATA FROM THE 2011 NATIONAL
YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY INDICATE THAT ONE IN THREE HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORT BEING IN AT LEAST ONE PHYSICAL FIGHT IN
THE LAST YEAR. ONE IN SIX STUDENTS REPORTED
CARRYING A WEAPON IN THE PAST MONTH.
6% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTED MISSING SCHOOL IN THE
PAST 30 DAYS BECAUSE THEY FELT UNSAFE AT SCHOOL OR ON THE WAY
TO OR FROM SCHOOL. THE IMPACT OF VIOLENCE EXTENDS
BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE RISK FOR INJURY OR DEATH AND CAN PERSIST
ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN. YOUNG VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE ARE AT
INCREASED RISK FOR HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS SUCH AS SUBSEQUENT
VIOLENCE, SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR, SMOKING, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND
HIGH RISK *** BEHAVIOR. VICTIMS ARE ALSO AT INCREASED
RISK FOR CHRONIC PROBLEMS SUCH AS DEPRESSION, PTSD, OBESITY,
ASTHMA AND ACADEMIC PROBLEMS. YOUTH VIOLENCE IS ALSO A MAJOR
THREAT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY. VIOLENCE OR FEAR OF VIOLENCE CAN
CONTRIBUTE TO PEOPLE SPENDING LESS TIME OUTDOORS.
IT CAN INCREASE HEALTH CARE COSTS, DECREASE PROPERTY VALUES
AND DISRUPT SOCIAL NETWORKS. EACH YEAR YOUTH HOMICIDES AND
NONFATAL VIOLENCE RESULT IN AN ESTIMATED $17.5 BILLION IN
COMBINED MEDICAL AND LOST PRODUCTIVITY COSTS.
CDC'S PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION EMPHASIZES
STOPPING VIOLENCE BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
THE GOAL IS TO STEM THE FLOW OF CHILDREN ENTERING THE CHILD
WELFARE AND JUSTICE SYSTEMS AND REDUCE INJURIES AND DEATHS.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH COMPLIMENTS THE WORK OF THE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SERVICE SYSTEMS THAT FOCUS ON CHILDREN
WHO ARE AT RISK OR HAVE EXPERIENCED VIOLENCE AS A VICTIM
OR PERPETRATOR. SURVEILLANCE TO TRACK TRENDS,
IDENTIFY SUBGROUPS AND LOCATIONS AND MONITOR THE EFFECTS OF
PREVENTION STRATEGIES IS A CORNERSTONE.
CDC CONDUCTS SURVEILLANCE ON VIOLENT DEATHS, INJURIES, SCHOOL
SHOOTINGS AND YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR.
CDC ALSO CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON MODIFIABLE RISK AND PROTECTIVE
FACTORS TO GUIDE THE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO DEVELOP AND RIGOROUSLY EVALUATE
PREVENTION STRATEGIES TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY ACTUALLY
PREVENT VIOLENT BEHAVIOR AND THEN WE WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO
BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO USE THE BEST AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO
REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE. THERE ARE A GROWING NUMBER OF
STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED AT THE INDIVIDUAL, RELATIONSHIP,
COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL LEVELS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE.
STRATEGIES HELP BUILD COMPETENCIES.
FAMILY-BASED APPROACHES -- COMMUNITY LEVEL PREVENTION
STRATEGIES INVOLVE CHANGES TO THE PHYSICAL OR SOCIAL CLIMATE
TO REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIOLENCE AND ENHANCE SOCIAL
INTERACTION. SOCIETAL LEVEL PREVENTION
STRATEGIES INCLUDE HEALTH, ECONOMIC, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL
POLICIES. EFFORTS TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE
LEVELS OF INFLUENCE ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND
SUSTAINED THAN THOSE FOCUSING ON A SINGLE PROGRAM.
SUBSEQUENT PRESENTERS WILL ELABORATE ON STRATEGIES.
WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING TO BUILD THE EVIDENCE BASE FOR RESEARCH.
OUR YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION CENTERS ARE ALLOWING US TO LEARN
WHILE DOING THE FOCUS OF THE SIX CENTERS IS TO PARTNER WITH HIGH
RISK COMMUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE COMPREHENSIVE
EVIDENCE BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
THESE CENTERS HAVE FORGED LOCAL AND STATE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING
WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO CREATE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS TO
TRACK YOUTH VIOLENCE AND IMPACT OF STRATEGIES.
THEY ARE AT THE FOREFRONT IN IDENTIFYING KEY FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY CAUSES OF VIOLENCE, TESTING INNOVATIVE PREVENTION
STRATEGIES AND EVALUATING EFFECTS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.
YOU WILL HEAR TODAY FROM DR. DEBORAH SMITH ABOUT THE WORK OF
THE YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION SHE LEADS IN CHICAGO.
WE HAVE LEARNED A GREAT DEAL ABOUT HOW IT WORKS TO PREVENT
YOUTH VIOLENCE, THE CHALLENGES THAT MANY COMMUNITIES ARE EITHER
NOT AWARE OF WHAT WORKS OR LACK THE CAPACITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
WE ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO BUILD AWARENESS AND BUILD A CAPACITY
OF LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS S FACILITATE WORK.
IT IS PROVIDING THE WORK THAT COMMUNITIES ARE SEEKING.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE FUND FOUR HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO WORK WITH
PARTNERS ACROSS SECTORS INCLUDING EDUCATION, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY. THEY HAVE CREATED DATA DRIVEN
PLANS USING THE BEST AVAILABLE EVIDENCE TO ADDRESS LOCAL RISK
AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS. THEY ARE WORKING TO IMPLEMENT
AND SUSTAIN THE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS TRACK AND
MEASURE IMPROVEMENT. YOU WILL HEAR TODAY FROM SHEILA
SAVANNAH FROM THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES ABOUT THEIR WORK TO ENHANCE YOUTH VIOLENCE
PREVENTION. THROUGH OUR WORK IN PROVIDING
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SOME CITIES WE ARE SEEING A GROWING
NUMBER OF SUCCESSES FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, MINNEAPOLIS IS TRACKING CITY WIDE INDICATORS OF
YOUTH VIOLENCE TO MONITOR THE EFFECTS OF THEIR COMPREHENSIVE
PLAN. THEY HAVE SEEN REDUCTIONS IN A
RANGE OF INDICATORS IN THE PAST SIX YEARS INCLUDING JUVENILE
INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENT CRIMES AS SUSPECTS AS WELL AS INJURIES
FROM GUN-RELATED ASSAULTS AND HOMICIDES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
WE ARE LEARNING A LOT FROM MINNEAPOLIS AND OTHER CITIES
THAT ARE TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
MINNEAPOLIS HAS A PREVENTION PLAN COORDINATED BY THEIR LOCAL
HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT IS DATA DRIVEN AND INVOLVE MULTIPLE
STRATEGIES APPROPRIATE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
THEY ENLISTED IN A LINE OF FULL SPECTRUM IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN. THEY BENEFITED FROM THE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY CDC AND CDC-FUNDED PARTNERS.
THEY USED A SET OF EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDING
STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, PROMOTE AND ENHANCE
MENTORING BY CARING ADULTS, STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE PUBLIC
SPACES AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CITIES DOING THIS WORK BY
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND ALIGNING RESOURCES WITH OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE NATIONAL FORUM FOR YOUTH
VIOLENCE PREVENTION, TO INTEGRATE PUBLIC HEALTH
APPROACHES TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN EXISTING EFFORTS.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS FROM BOB.
IN SUMMARY, THE FIELD OF YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION HAS
ESTABLISHED A RICH AND GROWING EVIDENCE BASE WITH DOCUMENTED
SUCCESSES AND GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THIS TO
SCALE IN COMMUNITIES. INFORMATION ABOUT SUCCESS
STORIES AS WELL AS FREE TRAINING AND PLANNING RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE ON OUR VETO VIOLENCE WEBSITE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN PREVENTING YOUTH VIOLENCE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DR. DEBORAH GORMAN SMITH.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE
TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN RESEARCHERS
AND COMMUNITIES ARE ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF REDUCING YOUTH
VIOLENCE AS WELL AS HOW THIS PARTNERSHIP IS MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES LIVING IN HIGH RISK
NEIGHBORHOODS. AS YOU HAVE HEARD YOUTH VIOLENCE
IS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM BUT ONE THAT IS
PREVENTABLE. DECADES OF RESEARCH HAS RESULTED
IN DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTIFICATION OF GROWING NUMBER
OF EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES THAT HAVE BEEN FOUND TO RESULT
IN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VIOLENCE AS WELL AS REDUCTIONS
IN OTHER RISK BEHAVIORS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED IN
THE DIFFERENT CONTEXTS AND DESIGNED TO EFFECT THE DIFFERENT
LEVELS OF INFLUENCE DESCRIBED EARLIER.
FOR EXAMPLE, PROGRAMS DELIVERED WITHIN SCHOOLS, WITH FAMILIES
AND TARGETING NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY RISK HAVE BEEN FOUND
THROUGH RIGOROUS EVALUATION TO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS
IN CRIME AND VIOLENCE. UNIVERSAL SCHOOL BASED VIOLENCE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS ARE THE MOST COMMONLY USED PREVENTION
APPROACH. A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW BY THE TASK
FORCE FOR COMMUNITY PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOUND THE PROGRAMS ON
AVERAGE RESULT IN 15% RELATIVE REDUCTION IN YOUTH VIOLENT
BEHAVIOR. LIFE SKILLS TRAINING HAS BEEN
SHOWN TO DECREASE THE INCIDENTS OF FIGHTING BY 40%.
COMMUNITY WIDE REDUCTIONS CAN ONLY COME FROM COMPREHENSIVE
STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS BROADER RISKS.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS ARE ONE PROMISING STRATEGY.
THESE ARE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS THAT ADDRESS
RESOURCES SUCH AS SECURITY AND ADDING GREEN SPACES TO INCREASE
THE APPEAL AND USE OF THE AREA. A CDC-SUPPORTED EVALUATION OF
THIS APPROACH FOUND A 12% DROP IN ROBBERIES AND 8% DROP IN
OVERALL VIOLENT CRIMES. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE PROGRAMS
THAT WORK TO PREVENT YOUTH VIOLENCE BUT THE PROGRAMS COME
AT SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS. AND THESE COSTS ARE USED TO
GUIDE DECISION MAKING ABOUT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE WASHINGTON STATE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC
POLICY CONDUCTS COMPREHENSIVE COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS AND POLICIES WEIGHING THE COST OF
THE PROGRAM AGAINST POTENTIAL SAVINGS LIKE REDUCTIONS IN CRIME
AND HEALTH CARE COST SAVINGS. THE INSTITUTE HAS CALCULATED THE
COST BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED AND HAVE
SHOWN SIGNIFICANT AND SUSTAINED PREVENTIVE AND FOUND BENEFITS
FOR EACH FAR OUTWEIGH THE COST. THESE RANGE FROM $3 TO $49 IN
SAVINGS PER DOLLAR SPENT. WHILE WE HAVE A GROWING LIST OF
APPROACHES THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE YOUTH
VIOLENCE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ADDRESSABLE OBSTACLES THAT
IMPEDE THE REALIZATION OF THE GOAL.
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES ARE UNDER UTILIZED.
MANY INTERVENTIONS AND PRACTICES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE YET CONTINUE
TO BE USED. THEY ARE USED BECAUSE THOSE IN
THE FIELD ARE NOT AWARE OF THE EVIDENCE BUT BECAUSE IT IS
HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO CHANGE OR
RE-ADJUST THEIR PRACTICE.
IN ADDITION SUCCESS FOUND FOR PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON
INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR. WHILE THESE PROGRAMS ARE
ABSOLUTELY ONE PART OF THE STRATEGY, CHANGING INDIVIDUAL
BEHAVIOR ALONE IS NOT LIKELY TO LEAD TO POPULATION LEVEL CHANGE.
WE NEED STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS COMMUNITY AND SOCIETAL RISKS.
CDC'S YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION CENTERS ARE HELPING SOME OF THE
NATION'S MOST VIOLENT COMMUNITIES STOP YOUTH VIOLENCE
BEFORE IT STARTS. THESE CENTERS ARE MODELS FOR HOW
WE CAN OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES BY USING EVIDENCE BASED APPROACHES
AND HOW A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH CAN CREATE REAL AND SUSTAINABLE
CHANGE. BY CREATING LOCAL AND STATE
PARTNERSHIPS AND PREVENTION CAPACITY THESE CENTERS SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES IN BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH AND PRACTICE.
THEY ARE WORKING WITHIN COMMUNITIES TO ASSESS LOCAL
NEEDS AND ASSETS IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY WHICH EVIDENCE-BASED
APPROACHES ARE NEEDED, WORKING TO BUILD COMPREHENSIVE AND
COORDINATED APPROACHES THAT ADDRESS MULTIPLE LEVELS OF RISK.
THEY ARE PROVIDING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN
IMPLEMENTATION AND IN EVALUATION.
THEY ALSO INFORM THE NATION'S BROADER EFFORTS BY SHARING
EXPERIENCES AND KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES.
I WOULD LIKE TO NOW TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK OF THE YOUTH
VIOLENCE PREVENTION CENTER IN CHICAGO.
THE CENTERS WERE ASKED TO FOCUS EFFORTS WITHIN ONE TARGET
COMMUNITY AND FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS WITHIN ONE COMMUNITY WE
CONSIDER THREE PRIMARY FACTORS, THE FIRST BEING THE RATES OF
VIOLENCE LOOKING AT CRIME AND VIOLENCE ACROSS THE CITY OF
CHICAGO. SECOND IN A HIGHLY SEGREGATED
CITY LIKE CHICAGO WE WANTED TO CONCENTRATE INITIAL EFFORTS IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH SOME LEVEL OF ETHNIC HERITAGE.
IN CHICAGO WHEN WORKING WITHIN DISADVANTAGED HIGH RISK
NEIGHBORHOODS. FINALLY, WE WERE LOOKING FOR A
COMMUNITY THAT HAD EXISTING RESOURCES AND POTENTIAL.
WHAT WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT AS VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
SEEN HERE IS THE MAP OF VIOLENT CRIME IN CHICAGO IN 2010, THE
YEAR THE CENTER WAS FUNDED. VIOLENT CRIME INCLUDES HOMICIDE,
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND BATTERY. THE AREAS IN RED ARE THOSE WITH
THE HIGHEST INCIDENTS OF CRIME, MORE THAN 400 PER SQUARE MILE.
OUR TARGET NEIGHBORHOOD IS OUTLINED HERE IN BLUE.
THIS IS ONE OF 18 COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO WHOSE VIOLENT CRIME RATE
IS OVER TWICE THE CITY AVERAGE. IN THIS HIGH CRIME NEIGHBORHOOD
SHOOTING AND HOMICIDE RATES ARE ACTUALLY THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN
THE CITY AVERAGE. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 37,000
RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY, 13% OF THE POPULATION
LIVE BELOW POVERTY COMPARED WITH 18% IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.
WE HAVE SOME FAMILIARITY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SCHOOLS
BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS WORK WE HAVE BEEN DOING WITHIN THE SCHOOLS
AND WE HAD A GROWING LIST OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS INTERESTED IN
AND FOCUSED ON YOUTH AND BROUGHT ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE
NEIGHBORHOOD. WITH THE GOAL OF POPULATION
LEVEL DECREASE IN VIOLENCE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL WE ARE
IMPLEMENTING CEASE FIRE, A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH THAT
INCLUDES MULTIPLE COMPONENTS. THOSE WORKING TO INTERRUPT THE
TRANSMISSION OF VIOLENCE THROUGH CONFLICT MEDIATION.
OUR INTENT WAS TO ADDRESS BOTH THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM OF THOSE
ALREADY INVOLVED IN COMMITTING THE VIOLENCE AND ALSO TO LOOK
UPSTREAM EARLIER IN DEVELOPMENT AT THOSE WHO ARE MOST AT RISK
FOR BECOMING INVOLVED. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT FAMILY
FOCUSED PROGRAMS HAVE THE STRONGEST AND MOST SUSTAINED
IMPACT. WE ARE IMPLEMENTING TWO EVIDENCE
BASED FAMILY INTERVENTIONS BOTH FOCUSED ON HIGH RISK CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES AS IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SCHOOL.
BOTH FOCUS ON IMPROVING PARENTING AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING
WITH THE GOAL OF DECREASING YOUTH AGGRESSION AND VIOLENT
BEHAVIOR BOTH DELIVERED WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING NETWORKS OF
SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG FAMILIES AS WELL AS FAMILIES USE OF THOSE
SUPPORTS. FOCUSES ON CHILDREN IN FIRST
GREAT AND GREAT FAMILIES FOCUSES ON SIXTH GRADE YOUTH AND THEIR
FAMILY, A PARTICULARLY RISKY DEVELOPMENTAL PERIOD BEFORE
YOUTH BECOME MORE SERIOUSLY INVOLVED IN VIOLENCE.
EARLY RESULTS SHOWING SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN
HOMICIDE IN THE TARGET COMMUNITY BETWEEN 2010 AND 2013.
WE SAW A 50% DECREASE IN HOMICIDE IN OUR TARGET COMMUNITY
DURING A PERIOD WHEN THE *** RATE IN OTHER VIOLENT
COMMUNITIES IN CHICAGO AS A WHOLE CHANGED RELATIVELY LITTLE.
IF WE EXTRAPOLATE THE RESULTS TO THE 17 COMMUNITIES WITH THE
HIGHEST RATES OF VIOLENT CRIMES IN CHICAGO FOR THE SAME PERIOD
OF TIME THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE EQUIVALENT OF MORE THAN 100
FEWER MURDERS. BEYOND THE NUMBERS ARE FEWER
FUNERALS, LESS TRAUMA AND SAFER COMMUNITY.
WE ARE ALSO SEEING SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VIOLENT CRIME AS A
WHOLE. THE FIGURE HERE SHOWS
SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN VIOLENCE.
THESE RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WHEN COMPARED WITH SIMILAR
COMMUNITIES, ALL OTHER POLICE BEATS IN CHICAGO AND ALL OTHER
POLICE BEATS WHERE CEASE FIRE WAS PRESENT.
THESE FINDINGS SUGGEST THIS IS NOT JUST A CEASE FIRE STORY BUT
REPRESENTS THE EFFECT OF ALL THE ACTIVITIES.
WE EXPECT THESE TRENDS TO CONTINUE AS WE AND OTHERS
CONTINUE WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AS HIGH RISK YOUTH AND
FAMILIES AGE, AS OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES BECAUSE OF OUR
COLLABORATION WITH THEM BEGIN TO EVALUATE AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS
AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE TRAINED IN PREVENTION.
THESE RESULTS AND THE RESULTS FROM THE OTHER YOUTH VIOLENCE
CENTERS ARE PUSHING THE FIELD TO THINK ABOUT A COMPREHENSIVE
PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO PREVENTION OF YOUTH VIOLENCE.
A MAJOR STRENGTH IS THAT WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO DO THIS IN
DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITIES. WE ARE ALSO FINDING CONSISTENCY
ACROSS CENTERS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN HIGH CRIME
NEIGHBORHOODS WE NEED INTERVENTIONS LIKE CEASE FIRE TO
ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM OF VIOLENCE BUT THESE CANNOT BE THE
ONLY STRATEGIES. AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO
IMPLEMENT EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES.
WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS EARLIER IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT TO
PREVENT BEHAVIORS THAT LEAD TO THE NEED.
CENTERS PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THE SCIENCE
AND BY WORKING WITH ORGANIZATIONS ALREADY IN THE
COMMUNITY, IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WORK AND SEE SUBSTANTIAL
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT. I HAVE HIGHLIGHTED TODAY JUST A
FEW EXAMPLES OUT OF A GROWING LIST OF SCHOOL, FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY BASED PREVENTION STRATEGIES DEMONSTRATED TO
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE YOUTH VIOLENCE.
SEEN HERE ARE THREE HELPFUL RESOURCES THAT COMMUNITIES CAN
USE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVIDENCE FOR EXISTING PROGRAMS
AND TO CONSIDER WHICH WILL BEST MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHEILA
SAVANNAH.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM SHEILA SAVANNAH.
I WILL BE SHARING HOW CDC STRIVE INITIATIVE IS HELPING DESIGN AND
IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY.
HOUSTON IS LARGELY CONTAINED WITHIN HARRIS COUNTY.
THIS AREA HAS 4.2 MILLION RESIDENTS, OVER A QUARTER
YOUNGER THAN AGE 18. ONE IN THREE OF THESE YOUTH LIVE
IN POVERTY. HOUSTON IS SPRAWLING.
OUR YOUNG PEOPLE COME FROM VERY DIVERSE BACK GROUNDS WITH OVER
90 LANGUAGES. AS WE WORK TO PREVENT VIOLENCE
THESE COMMUNITY FACTORS WE MUST CONSIDER.
HOMICIDE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN
HOUSTON. IN 201285 YOUTH WERE MURDERED.
IN 2012 OVER 14,000 REFERRALS OF YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18 TO THE
HARRIS COUNTY JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
14% FOR FELONY OFFENSES. EVEN BEFORE YOUTH VIOLENCE IS
EVIDENT IN THE HOMICIDE OR JUSTICE DATA, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
TELLING US THAT VIOLENCE HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR
LIVES. 2011 YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY
DATA INDICATE THAT OVER A THIRD OF HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
HAVE BEEN IN AT LEAST ONE PHYSICAL FIGHT IN THE PAST YEAR.
14% HAVE CARRIED A WEAPON, LIKE A KNIFE, GUN OR CLUB, IN THE
PAST MONTH. MANY OF OUR YOUTH HAVE SAFETY
CONCERNS AND EXPERIENCE VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL.
FOR EXAMPLE, 12% REPORT MISSING AT LEAST ONE DAY OF SCHOOL IN
THE PAST MONTH BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FEEL SAFE AT SCHOOL OR ON
THE WAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL. THIS PERCENTAGE FAR EXCEEDS THE
NATIONAL AVERAGE. YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW HOW VIOLENCE
EFFECTS THEM AND CAN POINT US TO SOLUTIONS.
SO IN 2010 THE HOUSTON DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ITS
PARTNERS SURVEYED YOUTH AGE 11 TO 18.
YOUTH WERE SIGNIFICANTLY TO FEEL MORE SAFE AT HOME THAN IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY WERE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO
CONTRIBUTE TO FAMILY THAN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.
OVER HALF THE YOUTH REPORTED NOT HAVING SAFE PLACES TO GO OR
PROGRAMS TO PARTICIPATE IN. IN REVIEWING THESE RESULTS WITH
OUR YOUTH LEADERS WE CONCLUDED THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN HOUSTON FEEL
DISCONNECTED FROM THEIR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORS.
THEY WANT TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITIES BUT
DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET STARTED AND HAVE FEW STRUCTURED OUT OF
SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. HOUSTON HAS A LONG STANDING
COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING NEEDS BY WORKING TOGETHER INVOLVING
YOUTH TO IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS AND IMPROVING SYSTEMS BY FOCUSING ON
STRENGTHS RATHER THAN ONLY ON RISKS.
MUCH OF THIS PHILOSOPHY WAS FORGED IN A FIVE-YEAR SYSTEM OF
CARE GRANT WHICH WAS GUIDED BY MULTI AGENCY BOARD THAT INCLUDED
YOUTH AND PARENTS. A 2009 EXAMINATION OF THE MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS. THIS WORK DOES WELL TO USE THE
CDC FUNDED PROJECT TO APPLY A PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO
PREVENTING VIOLENCE. THE STRIVE AWARD HELPED US APPLY
FUNCTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF YOUTH VIOLENCE AND CATAPULTED
EXISTING ACTIVITIES FORWARD IN SEVERAL WAYS.
WE ARE CONNECTING MULTIPLE SYSTEMS AND ALIGNING ACTIVITIES
TO PREVENT VIOLENCE. WE ARE COMBINING DATA FROM
MULTIPLE SOURCES LIKE POLICE, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SURVEYS
AND USING THE DATA TO GUIDE APPROACHES.
WE ARE USING THE STRIVE TOOL TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE
PREVENTION PLAN AND SELECT EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES
CONSISTENT WITH COLLECTIVE VALUES AND RESOURCES.
WE ARE USING STRIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPLEMENT
STRATEGIES AND TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR APPROACH.
WE BEGAN OUR PREVENTION PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION IN POLICE
DISTRICT 14 WHICH IS COMPROMISED OF FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE ARE STARTING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL SO WE CAN
LEARN FROM A FOCUSED IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATE OUR
IMPACT. THIS INITIAL STEP WILL INFORM
OUR FUTURE WORK IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE SELECTED POLICE DISTRICT 14 BECAUSE THE OVERALL VIOLENT
CRIME RATE AMONG YOUTH AGE 16 YEARS AND YOUNGER IS MORE THAN
75% HIGHER THAN THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE FOR THE SAME AGED
YOUTH IN ALL OF HOUSTON. THIS COMMUNITY ALSO HAS HIGHER
RATES OF TEEN BIRTHS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS, INTIMATE
PARTNER VIOLENCE AND CHRONIC DISEASE.
TO GUIDE OUR PLANNING AND ULTIMATE IMPLEMENTATION IN
POLICE DISTRICT 14 WE ASKED NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH TO IDENTIFY
THE REASONS FOR VIOLENCE AND WHO IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD COULD BEST
HELP. WE CONVENED OTHER PARTNERS LIKE
FAITH BASED COMMUNITY AND LOCAL FOUNDATIONS TO PROVIDE MORE DATA
AND HELP US MAP NEIGHBORHOOD ASSETS.
THE DATA ENABLED US TO IDENTIFY THREE INTERRELATED AND MUTUALLY
HELD VALUES TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR LOCAL YOUTH, BY
CONNECTING YOUTH VOICE AND HEALTH TO YOUTH SAFETY WE BEGAN
TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PLAN THAT
WAS STRENGTH BASED. WE COULD ALSO MOBILIZE A LARGER
PARTNER BASE THAT INCLUDED NONTRADITIONAL PARTNERS WHO
RECOGNIZED THEIR ROLE IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
BUILDING ON THESE VALUES WE USE STRIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
TOOLS TO CONSIDER MANY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS ALONG
SIDE COMMUNITY PRACTICES. THIS ALLOWED PARTNERS TO SHIFT
RESOURCES TO EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGY.
STRIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HELPED US DEVELOP A COMMON
EVALUATION METHOD AS PART OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
ONE PREVENTION STRATEGY IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS YOUTH
EMPOWERMENT SOLUTIONS. WE BEGAN IMPLEMENTING THIS
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM IN OCTOBER.
WE ALREADY HAVE EIGHT PARTNERS AND 118 PARTICIPATING YOUTH.
WE WILL EXPAND TO AT LEAST 15 SITES THIS SUMMER.
FOR SOME PARTNERS THIS IS THEIR FIRST EXPOSURE TO AN
EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM. THIS EXPERIENCE IS INCREASING
THEIR CAPACITY TO SELECT AND IMPLEMENT SCIENCE DRIVEN
STRATEGY. AS WE ROLL OUT THE STRATEGY
STRIVE TOOLS ARE HELPING US GATHER IMPLEMENTATION DATA.
THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL BARRIERS TO
USING EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM AND IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS TO
SUPPORT EXPANSION. ANOTHER EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY
INCLUDED IS CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.
BY DELIBERATELY ENHANCING VISIBILITY, MANAGING ACCESS AND
PROPERLY MAINTAINING PHYSICAL SPACES WE CAN REDUCE FEAR AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIOLENCE, ENHANCE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND
PROMOTE POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.
THIS STRATEGY WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE TO WHAT OUR YOUTH IN
COMMUNITIES CALLED FOR AND BUILDS UPON YEARS OF SIMILAR
ACTIVITIES. THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP WE HAVE
ADDED PARTICIPATION OF YOUTH AND RESIDENTS TO BUILD COMMUNITY
COHESION AND NEW PARTNERS TO HELP EXPAND AND SUSTAIN THIS
WORK. PARTICIPATING YOUTH ARE NOW
WORKING WITH US, PROPERTY OWNERS AND THEIR SCHOOLS TO BETTER USE
COMMUNITY SPACES. WHILE WE ARE VERY EARLY IN
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR STRATEGIES WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN EVALUATION
PLAN THAT WILL HELP US MEASURE OUR IMPACT ACROSS MULTIPLE
LEVELS. WITH CDC'S HELP WE HAVE
IDENTIFIED DATA SOURCES AND SET BASELINES AND ANTICIPATED
TARGETS. WE WILL MEASURE IMPACT ON OUR
YOUTH SUCH AS REDUCTIONS IN VIOLENCE AND INCREASES IN THEIR
ASSETS. WE WILL ALSO MEASURE BROADER
EFFECTS LIKE CHANGES IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THE
SCHOOLS, PERCEPTIONS OF SAFETY AMONG YOUTH AND RESIDENTS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS SUCH AS ILLEGAL DUMPING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS. IN HOUSTON, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT
WHILE YOUTH VIOLENCE PRESENTS DIRE FACTS, PREVENTION IS
POSSIBLE. WE HAVE SEEN THAT STRENGTH-BASED
METHODOLOGY IMPROVES PARTNER ENGAGEMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT
OF COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH WHERE ALL GROUPS CAN SEE VIOLENCE
PREVENTION ROLES. WE HAVE LEARNED THAT WHEN WE
LISTEN TO YOUTH THEY CAN GUIDE US AND GIVE INSIGHTS ON HOW TO
MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES SAFER AND HEALTHIER.
HOUSTON IS PROOF THAT COMMUNITIES DON'T NEED TO START
FROM SCRATCH. WE HAVE LEARNED FROM OTHER
CITIES, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH ON HOW TO
SELECT EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES AND APPROACHES AND HOW TO PUT
THEM IN PLACE. WE BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS HAVE THE SKILLS IN ASSESSMENT, DATA ANALYSIS,
PLANNING AND POLICY THAT ARE SORELY NEEDED TO MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN NATIONAL RATES OF YOUTH
VIOLENCE. PUBLIC HEALTH CAN AND SHOULD BE
A KEY LEADER AND VOICE IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN EVERY
COMMUNITY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE BELIEVE
THAT YOUTH VIOLENCE CAN AND SHOULD BE PREVENTED.
WE ARE BOLSTERED BY THE CDC'S INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS AND BOLD COLLABORATIONS WITH THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL BE DESCRIBED BY OUR FINAL SPEAKER.
THANK YOU.
>>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M ADMINISTRATOR AT THE OFFICE
OF DELINQUENCY PREVENTION. MY REMARKS WILL EXAMINE YOUTH
VIOLENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S PERSPECTIVE, HOW THE
DEPARTMENT IS ADDRESSING YOUTH VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND
WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. REDUCING YOUTH VIOLENCE IN OUR
COMMUNITIES IS A TOP ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE PRIORITY. IN 2001 THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE
JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION COMMISSIONED
SCIENTISTS TO EXAMINE WHAT RESEARCH IS TELLING US ABOUT
ADOLESCENT BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL DEVELOPMENT.
IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR THE ACADEMY RELEASED THE FINAL REPORT,
REFORMING JUVENILE JUSTICE DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH.
REFORMING JUVENILE JUSTICE OFFERS RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN
TRANSFORM HOW POLICYMAKERS, PRACTITIONERS AND RESEARCHERS
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF YOUTH WHO ARE VIOLENT OR WHO ARE THE
VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE. AS REFORMING JUVENILE JUSTICE MAKES
CLEAR RESEARCH ON ADOLESCENT BRAIN AND DEVELOPMENT IS
EXPANDING WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROCESSES OF YOUTH AND
MATURATION THAT ARE ON GOING DURING ADOLESCENCE.
SIMPLE PUT, ADOLESCENCE ARE ON THE PATH TO ADULTHOOD.
THIS PERIOD BETWEEN CHILDHOOD AND FULL MATURITY PRESENTS ITS
OWN UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMUNITY.
ADOLESCENCE ARE NOT YET ADULTS BUT THROUGHOUT HISTORY THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS TREATED THEM AS IF THEY WERE WHEN THEY
OFFENDED. ADOLESCENCE DIFFER FROM ADULTS
AND CHILDREN IN THREE IMPORTANT WAYS.
THEY HAVE UNDER DEVELOPED IMPULSE CONTROLS, HEIGHTENED
SENSITIVITY TO PEER PRESSURE AND LESS ABILITY TO CONSIDER FUTURE
CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS. RESEARCH ON THE IMPACT OF
VARIOUS STATE POLICIES HAVE EMPHASIZED THAT WE CANNOT TREAT
YOUTH THE SAME AS ADULT IF WE WANT TO STEM THE CRIME.
THE TASK FORCE EXAMINED WHETHER POLICIES THAT FACILITATE THE
TRANSFER OF YOUNG PEOPLE FROM JUVENILE TO ADULT CRIMINAL
SYSTEMS HELP WITH THE VIOLENCE. CITING STRONG EVIDENCE THAT THE
LAWS AND POLICIES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASE IN VIOLENCE.
INCREASE IN 34% VIOLENT RE-ARRESTS FOUND IN TRANSFER
JUVENILES. THE TRANSFER OF YOUTH MAY RESULT
IN OTHER VIOLENT OUTCOMES INCLUDING VIOLENCE AND ELEVATED
SUICIDE RATES FOR JUVENILES INCARCERATED IN ADULT FACILITIES.
WE LEARNED TRANSFER POLICIES ARE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO HELPING US
REDUCE VIOLENCE BY YOUNG PEOPLE. THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF
CHILDREN'S EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE FOUND 60% OF THIS NATION'S
CHIN CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED OR
WITNESSED VIOLENCE AND ALMOST 40% WERE DIRECT VICTIMS OF TWO
A VICTIM OF NT ACTS. VIOLENCE FIVE OR MORE TIMES.
YOUTH VIOLENCE OFTEN STEMS FROM PLAY BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL CHILD
AND HIS OR HER PEER GROUP, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF EARLY TRAUMA ARE SIGNIFICANT AND CAN CHANGE
BRAIN PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONING.
ON GOING VIOLENCE, ABUSE AND NEGLECT CAN DERAIL A CHILD'S
DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT CHILD
BECOMING A PERPETRATED OR VICTIM OF LATER VIOLENCE.
REDUCE A CHILD'S EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE AND YOU REDUCE THE
LIKELIHOOD THAT THAT CHILD BECOMES VIOLENT.
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO RESPOND WITH VIOLENCE OFTEN COME TO CONTACT
WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. THROUGH ASSESSMENT AND PROPER
TREATMENT WE CAN HEAL CHILDREN WHO ARE TRAUMATIZED.
WE KNOW MANY ARE TRAUMATIZED BY VIOLENCE AND OTHERS ARE
RESILIENT AND NOT TRAUMATIZED BY THE VIOLENCE THEY EXPERIENCE.
RESILIENCE IS AN AREA THAT DESERVES MORE EXAMINATION.
AT THE SAME TIME, RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT MOST YOUTH IN THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA.
FOR INSTANCE, ONE STUDY OF JUVENILE DETAINEES IN THE
CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA FOUND OF THE SAMPLE 93% HAVE
EXPERIENCED ONE TRAUMA. FURTHERMORE 84% HAD EXPERIENCED
MORE THAN ONE TRAUMA. AND 57% WERE EXPOSED TO TRAUMA
SIX OR MORE TIMES. AT THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE
JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY PREVENTION OUR GOAL IS TO SHRINK
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH
AND OTHERS IN COMMUNITIES ARE CRITICAL TO ASSURE EFFECTIVE
STRATEGIES ARE IMPLEMENTED. YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD TRAVEL ONLY
AS FAR INTO THE SYSTEM AS THEY NEED TO GET THE HELP THEY
REQUIRE. WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ENTER THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM WE MUST PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT HELPS THEM
BECOME CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITIES.
THIS MEANS SCREENING AND ASSESSMENTS, APPROPRIATE
TREATMENT AND SERVICES FOR EVERY CHILD WHO ENTERED THE SYSTEM.
AT THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY
PREVENTION OUR FOCUS IS ON A DEVELOPMENTAL APPROACH, TRAUMA
SCREENING, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS TO
INFORM SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
TRADITIONALLY JUSTICE SYSTEM DEALT WITH THE AFTER MATH AND
CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLENCE AND TO A LESSER DEGREE ITS PREVENTION.
THE FOCUS HAS BEEN ON SEEKING JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS AND
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DEFENDERS.
OVER THE PAST DECADE OR SO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMUNITY HAS
BEGUN TO RETHINK THE RESPONSE. STATES AND COMMUNITIES ARE
RECONSIDERING THEIR YOUTH CRIME, LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THE
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEAD YOUTH TO OFFEND AND ENGAGE IN VIOLENCE
AND THEREFORE BRING THEM INTO CONTACT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE EMBRACES THIS RISING TIDE OF
SYSTEM REFORM AND TRANSFORMATION AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.
THESE IDEALS ARE CAPTURED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S NATIONAL
FORUM OF YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THE FORUM BRINGS TOGETHER TEENS FROM TEN CITIES TO SHARE THEIR
EXPERIENCES AND INFORMATION ABOUT EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES
AND DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE PLANS. MAYORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED GROUPS,
BUSINESS, PARENTS AND TEENS FROM EACH CITY WORK TOGETHER TO
DEVELOP VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES TAILORED TO THE LOCAL
NEEDS. THESE TEAMS IDENTIFY WAYS TO
MAKE BETTER USE OF AVAILABLE LOCAL FUNDS AND RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE. THEY BUILD MULTI DISCIPLINARY
PARTNERSHIPS FOR PLANNING AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND WORK
TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGIES.
THE FORUM ENCOURAGES MEMBER CITIES TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY DO
BUSINESS AND SHARE COMMON CHALLENGES AND PROMISING
STRATEGIES ACROSS THE CHILD WELFARE, JUVENILE JUSTICE, LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER DOMAINS. THE GOAL IS COMPREHENSIVE
PLANNING AND COORDINATED ACTION. THE COMMUNITIES USE DATA DRIVEN
BALANCED APPROACH, ONE THAT EMPHASIZES PREVENTION,
INTERVENTION, ENFORCEMENT AND REENTRY TO REDUCE YOUTH
VIOLENCE. THE FORUM ISN'T ABOUT PROVIDING
NEW MONEY. IT IS ABOUT MAXIMIZING EXISTING
RESOURCES. WE HAVE GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM THE
HIGHEST LEVELS IN EVERY PARTICIPATING CITY AND THE
ADMINISTRATION'S COMMITMENT BEGINS WITH THE WHITE HOUSE,
ADDRESSING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE IS TOO BIG A PROBLEM FOR ANY ONE
DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY TO TACKLE ALONE.
THE MEMBERS CONTINUE TO ENHANCE COLLABORATION.
THIS IS AS TRUE OF FEDERAL AGENCIES AS EACH OF THE
COMMUNITIES. THE MESSAGE TO THE FORUM IS THAT
YOUTH VIOLENCE IS NOT INEVITABLE.
OUR COLLABORATION WITH PUBLIC HEALTH AND CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL AND PREVENTION SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN INVALUABLE
IN MULTIPLE WAYS. THIS PARTNERSHIP HAS HELPED US
REFRAME AS NOT JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM BUT ALSO
PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM. DOING SO BROADENS DISCUSSION TO
EMPHASIZE HEALTH AND WELL BEING. THE DATA PROVIDES MORE COMPLETE
PICTURE OF THE PROBLEM AND POTENTIAL SOLUTION.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH FOCUS ON EARLY PREVENTION AND EVIDENCE BASE OF
PREVENTION STRATEGIES IS COMPLIMENTING THE JUVENILE
JUSTICE WORK. IN THE PROCESS WE ARE
TRANSFORMING JUVENILE JUSTICE. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS OFTEN
SPOKE OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS A PUBLIC HEALTH
PROBLEM THAT BECOMES A PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEM.
VIEWED FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE, ANY COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION WE
DEVELOP MUST MARRY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMPONENTS.
WE CANNOT ARREST OUR WAY OUT OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.
A BROADER, MORE NUANCE APPROACH IS REQUIRED.
JUVENILE JUSTICE AND ANY OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK WITH
CHILDREN SHOULD BE TRAINED TO SPOT TRAUMA WHEN THEY SEE IT AND
TO GET THE CHILD TO THE CARE HE OR SHE NEEDS.
UPON TAKING TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM EVERY YOUNG
PERSON SHOULD BE SCREENED OR ASSESSED.
I BELIEVE WE ARE AT A CROSS ROADS.
WE MUST EMBRACE THE VISION THAT YOUTH VIOLENCE IS PREVENTABLE
AND SOLUTIONS ARE WITHIN OUR REACH.
>>> WE CAN NOW OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF GUIDE LINES. ONE IS, PLEASE ASK SINGLE
QUESTIONS AND NOT MULTIPLE ONES. ASK QUESTIONS RATHER THAN MAKE
COMMENTS. AND TRY TO SPEAK UP LOUDLY SO
FOLKS CAN HEAR YOU. >>> FROM OUR ONLINE AUDIENCES,
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE OTHER NON-TARGETED COMMUNITIES TO GET
INVOLVED? >> I WILL START ON THIS BUT I
SUSPECT OTHERS WILL COMMENT, AS WELL.
ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS THAT WE ARE TAKING IS TO BUILD OUR
CAPACITY TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SOT THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY WORK WITH A BROADER
SPECTRUM OF COMMUNITIES TO DO
THE WORK AND BUILD TOOLS TO MAKE DECISIONS AND UNDERSTAND DATA
AND HOW TO COLLECT THE RIGHT KIND OF DATA.
AND TO IDENTIFY THE RIGHT PROGRAMS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES.
WHAT WE FIND IS MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES WANT TO DO THE WORK
BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE HOW TO. SO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT
IS REALLY ONE OF OUR LONG-TERM STRATEGIES TO BRING THIS TO
SCALE AND TO BUILD THIS TO A BROADER NETWORK OF CITIES.
>> I WOULD ADD THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS
WITH THE FORUM MODEL IS THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN BUY IN AT THE
HIGHEST POLITICAL LEVELS AT THE CITY.
YOU NEED THE POLITICIAN, BE IT THE MAYOR OR CHIEF LEGISLATOR IN
AN AREA TO DECIDE THEY HAVE A COMMITMENT TO BRINGING ABOUT
CHANGE. WHEN THEIR COMMITMENT IS
EXPRESSED THEN ALL OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS AND
PROFESSIONALS ENGAGED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM,
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WELFARE SYSTEM AGREE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE NEED THEM ALONG WITH THE UNIVERSITIES AND OTHERS TO HELP
UNDERSTAND WHAT A COMPREHENSIVE MULTI DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM LOOKS
LIKE AND ALSO HOW TO BEGIN TO DEVELOP THE TOOLS TO EVALUATE
PROGRESS IN EACH INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY.
>>> AGAIN, FROM OUR ONLINE AUDIENCES, AS A SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER WHAT CAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS DO
TO CONNECT WITH YOUTH OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL?
>> I THINK THE FAITH-BASED PARTNERS ARE ESSENTIAL BOTH
INSIDE THE SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE SO THAT IT IS A CONTINUUM.
I THINK REAL THE MORE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS THEY CAN EXPAND THE
KINDS OF EVIDENCE BASED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AND THEN THOSE SAME
PARTNERS CAN CONSTRUCT PROGRAMS THAT GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE A PLACE
TO GO OUT OF SCHOOL, SO THAT WAY THEY KNOW TRUSTED ADULTS IN
BOTH ENVIRONMENTS. I THINK THAT IS REALLY
ESSENTIAL. >> WE KNOW THAT MENTORING WORKS.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE WELL-DEVELOPED MENTORING
STRATEGIES. WE KNOW THAT THE LENGTH OF TIME
INVOLVED IN MENTORING IS OFTEN CRITICAL.
EWE UNDERSTAND THE SCREENING TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING
MENTORING PROGRAMS. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
GET INVOLVED WITH YOUTH OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL TO GET ENGAGED IN A
WELL DEVELOPED MENTORING PROGRAM USING EVIDENCE-BASED MENTORING
TECHNIQUES AND PRACTICES. I THINK EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH
CHILDREN NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND ADOLESCENTS DEVELOPMENT.
IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THE WAY CHILDREN'S MINDS DEVELOP WE
CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW TO ENGAGE THEM PROPERLY.
WE OFTEN THINK WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING WHEN RESEARCH SHOWS
US WE ARE MAKING REALLY HORRENDOUS MISTAKES.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ADOLESCENT
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENT THAT IN TERMS OF NEW PRACTICES AND
PROGRAMS AND PROMISING APPROACHES.
WE NEED TO DEVELOP ABOUT WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ADOLESCENT
DEVELOPMENT. >> THERE IS ALSO SHIFTING
THINKING AROUND POLICY RELATED TO THIS.
THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT TO STOP SCHOOLS FROM SUSPENDING
KIDS BECAUSE WE JUST END UP LOSING THEM.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY GO AWAY. EWE LOSE ACCESS TO THEM.
THERE IS AN INCREASED EFFORT TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL OR KEEP THEM
CONNECTED. SUSPENSION IS NO LONGER
CONSIDERED THE PRIME RESPONSE TO KIDS WHO ARE ACTING OUT BUT MORE
AS AN EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE KIDS ARE ACTING OUT AND HOW
TO ENGAGE THEM. >> IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THAT
SHOWS IMPROVED NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE HAS ANY
MEASURABLE EFFECT ON YOUTH VIOLENCE?
>> I'M NOT SURE THERE IS MUCH OF DATABASE ON THIS.
THERE IS A GENERAL FEELING THAT THE ELIMINATION OF THOSE
PROGRAMS HAS LED TO MORE KIDS GETTING LOST IN THE SYSTEM
BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO PLACE TO SUCCEED IF THEY ARE NOT STRONG
ACADEMICALLY. SO THERE IS GROWING THE TROPICAL
STORM IN RE-INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM TO ALLOW A BROADER
SPECTRUM OF OPPORTUNITIES. BUT THE ACTUAL IMPACT OF THIS
HAS NOT BEEN YET WELL STUDIED. >> I'LL JUST ADD THAT I THINK
THERE ARE SOME STUDIES GOING ON THAT ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE FACTORS.
I THINK IF WE LOOK ACROSS PROBLEMS AND WE LOOK AT THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY AND ALSO THE RISK AND
PROTECTIVE FACTORS WE SEE THAT ADDRESSING THOSE WILL NOT ONLY
IMPACT YOUTH VIOLENCE BUT WILL IMPACT A WHOLE RANGE OF
BEHAVIORS AND SUPPORT KIDS IN MULTIPLE CONTEXTS.
SO WE KNOW THINGS THAT ARE LINKED.
I THINK IT IS NOT CLEAR RIGHT NOW EXACTLY HOW.
>>> FIRST OFF, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE IMPACT OF OUTCOMES.
DO YOU THINK THE RECENTLY PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
WOULD HAVE POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION?
SO THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE WOULD INCREASE FROM $7.25 PER
HOUR TO $10.10 PER HOUR. >> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT
QUESTION. >> EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE THE
ECONOMIC DATA, I DO KNOW THAT EMPLOYMENT IS ESSENTIAL IN THESE
COMMUNITIES. I THINK THE ISSUES OF YOUTH
EMPLOYMENT IS A PART OF THE SOLUTION.
AND I THINK WHEN WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT MULTI SECTOR KINDS OF
STRATEGIES, THE EMPLOYMENT AND THE WORKFORCE HAS TO BE BROUGHT
TO THE TABLE, AS WELL. >> THERE ARE RELATIONSHIPS
BETWEEN THE ECONOMY AND A WHOLE SPECTRUM OF FORMS OF VIOLENCE,
NOT JUST YOUTH VIOLENCE. SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT IF YOU
IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AND WE HAVE SOME EXAMPLES OF THAT LIKE THE
LOS ANGELES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA THAT IF YOU DO INVEST IN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- I DON'T SEE WHY THAT WOULDN'T INCLUDE
MINIMUM WAGE AS PART OF THAT -- WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY EFFECT THAT.
SO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ECONOMY AND VIOLENCE IS VERY
REAL. THE SOLUTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE
ECONOMY TO IMPACT ON VIOLENCE IS AN AREA THAT WE ARE CONTINUING
TO PURSUE AND INVESTIGATE. >> I WOULD ADD THIS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW IS THAT CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE ARE OFTEN TRAUMATIZED.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NEVER REALLY DONE IN THIS
SOCIETY IS SCREEN EVERY CHILD WHO COMES INTO SCHOOL TO
DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE.
AND IF THEY HAVE DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN
TRAUMATIZED. IF THEY HAVE, GET THEM PROPER
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. WE HAVE NOT TRAINED TEACHERS AND
EVERYBODY ELSE WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH CHILDREN WHAT A
TRAUMATIZED CHILD LOOKS LIKE. WE KNOW WE HAVE DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN OUR SOCIETY AND EXTENSIVE VIOLENCE IN OUR
SOCIETY. UNTIL WE ADDRESS THE TRAUMA WE
ARE MISSING OUT ON THE TOOLS TO ADDRESS YOUTH VIOLENCE.
I HAVE WORKED WITH CHILDREN EXTENSIVELY.
ONE THING I FOUND IS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK FOR THEM TO GET
JOBS AND HAVE THEM HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO STAY, A CARING ADULT
AND ALL OF THAT HAS NOT REALLY REDUCED THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. I HAVE WONDERED OVER AND OVER
AGAIN WHAT IT IS ABOUT CHILDREN THAT KEEPS THEM COMING BACK TO
THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE FACTORS IS THAT WE
HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE TRAUMA THAT THEY EXPERIENCED EARLIER IN
LIFE. WE KNOW FROM THE STUDY THAT
TRAUMA AFFECTS YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. YOU CAN BE IN YOUR '60s AND '70
AND SEE BE IMPACTED. WE HAVE TO GRAPPLE AND COME UP
WITH SOLUTIONS AND HEAL OUR CHILDREN BY GETTING THE PROPER
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE. >> ANOTHER QUESTION FROM SOCIAL
MEDIA. MOST JUVENILE JUSTICE ENTITIES
DO NOT INCLUDE SEEING PARENTS WITH A GOAL OF PROMOTING
VIOLENCE, REDUCING DELINQUENCY RATE AND BUILDING STRONGER
COMMUNITIES, WHAT DOES IS THE COMMITMENT TO VIOLENCE
PREVENTION STRATEGIES THAT ARE FAMILY AND YOUTH DRIVEN?
>> THE OFFICE OF JUVENILE JUSTICE IS COMMITTED TO FAMILY
ENGAGEMENT AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE HAVE NOT ADVANCED SPECIFIC POLICIES IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE WE
ARE RESEARCHING THEM. WE RECEIVED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE JUVENILE JUSTICE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TWO
WEEKS AGO. WE PLAN TO RESEARCH THEM
CAREFULLY AND MAKE SURE THE KINDS OF POLICIES THAT WE ARE
ADVANCING CAN BE THOROUGHLY INSTITUTIONALIZE IN THE JUVENILE
JUSTICE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE NATION TO THE EXTENT THAT THE
STATES WANT TO ADOPT THE POLICIES.
WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE ADVANCE POLICIES THAT CAN WORK.
WE HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE WORK ON FAMILY ENGAGEMENT.
THE OFFICE HAS HAD MULTIPLE AND REDUCED A PAPER ON FAMILY
ENGAGEMENT AND TALKED TO EXPERTS FOR SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME PRIOR
TO MY JOINING THE OFFICE. WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE HOPE
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR TO RELEASE POLICY
SPECIFIC OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. >> I THINK HOUSTON IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF THIS. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE ENGAGEMENT
OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES IS CRUCIAL AND COMMUNITY BUY IN IS CENTRAL
IN THIS. IT IS VERY HARD TO INTRODUCE
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS IF COMMUNITIES DON'T OWN THE
PROGRAMS AND THE PROBLEM. SO I THINK THAT IS A QUESTION
THAT GOES WELL BEYOND WHAT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DOING
TO WHAT ALL SYSTEMS ARE DOING IN TERMS OF ENGAGING CHILDREN AND
FAMILY IN THIS WORK. I BELIEVE OUR TIME IS UP.
>> LET'S HAVE A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH GRAND ROUNDS.
PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN IN FOUR WEEKS.
THANK YOU.