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Achieving broad, effective health and safety improvements requires moving beyond educational models and advancing efforts on multiple levels. The Spectrum of Prevention is a signature framework for Prevention Institute because it delineates the layers of action involved in accomplishing community-wide improvements, and it encourages the process of developing synergistic strategies—wherein actions taken at different levels are mutually supportive, and together foster broad-scale reform. Policies and organizational practices are particularly important as levers for comprehensive change, because they establish population-wide standards; signal a shift in norms; and directly influence community environments, resources, and actions. A good solution solves multiple problems.
For example, school violence prevention strategy has advanced in many communities, from simply teaching conflict resolution skills to creating a more supportive overall school climate. Applying a broad-based, layered strategy, many schools are also emphasizing literacy; recognizing teachers and administrators as role models and potential mentors; adopting staff-wide conflict-resolution curricula; and reviewing school policies, including standards for discipline.