VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN ALAMEDA COUNTY: PHASE II PROPOSED MEETING PLAN

In partnership with Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Prevention Institute developed a set of preliminary violence prevention recommendations for the county which are laid out in the report Toward A Lifetime Commitment to Violence Prevention in Alameda County: Background and Preliminary Recommendations. These recommendations defined general strategic directions to promote a comprehensive and unified approach to violence prevention in the county. This process represents phase I. The following proposed plan outlines the meeting process for phase two of a four phase plan.

Phase II: The overall goal of phase II is to develop solutions that address the recommendations delineated in phase I. The solutions will include attention to both what must be done and how things should be done. For example, as training needs are delineated for different audiences, there will also be a focus on how the training will be accomplished (e.g. through annual conferences, interdepartmental workshops, etc.) Phase II is scheduled to be completed around March 2004. Phase III will focus on who is responsible for implementing the solutions laid out in phase II. The findings from this process will be compiled into a blueprint for the county in the fall of 2004. Phase IV is the implementation phase.

OCTOBER Core Group Meeting Objectives Consideration of overall phase II work plan, incl. meeting structure, roles/ responsibilities Finalize membership Affirmation of preliminary findings & recommendations Understand the 3 keys violence prevention framework: (1) Violence is complex and requires a comprehensive approach, (2) Risk and resiliency factors must be addressed, (3) Violence prevention requires an integrated strategy for action Delineate county risk/resiliency factors** Brainstorm structures that will ensure accountability and coordination.

DECEMBER Core Group Meeting Objectives Affirm previous meeting's findings Determine structure options* Prioritize risk/resiliency factors for the county Understand the Spectrum of Prevention*** as a tool to develop comprehensive approaches Apply the Spectrum to each of the priority risk and resiliency factors to delineate a multifaceted set of activities to reduce key risk factors and strengthen priority resilience factors.

JANUARY Core Group Meeting Objectives Affirm previous meeting's findings Finish applying the Spectrum to each of the priority risk and resiliency factors. Advisory Board Meeting Objectives Affirm core group findings and conclusions to date Understand the 3 keys framework Understand the Spectrum of Prevention Finalize structure* or create a plan to finalize the structure

FEBRUARY Core Group Meeting Objectives Confirm the risk/resiliency factors according to the Spectrum Develop violence prevention principles to be shared by relevant sectors of the county Finalize proposed structure for violence prevention efforts in the county

MARCH Core Group Meeting Objectives Identify barriers at state level that interfere with achieving the solutions Finalize violence prevention principles Commitments to move this project forward Advisory Board Meeting Objectives Affirm solutions that core group has defined Adopt violence prevention principles Determine next steps

* Staff from the Little Hoover Commission may be available to present to the core group and advisory board regarding their findings about government structures that support violence prevention at the state level and applicability at the county level.

** Risk and Resilience: The following risk and resilience factors were delineated in the preliminary report:

Risk Factors	Resilience Factors
1. Poverty and economic disparity 2. Discrimination and oppression 3. Incarceration/Re-entry 4. Illiteracy and poor academic achievement 5. Firearms 6. Experiencing and witnessing violence 7. Alcohol and other drugs 8. Negative family dynamics 9. Community deterioration 10. Mental illness 11. Gender socialization 12. Media violence	1. Meaningful opportunities for participation 2. Positive attachments and relationships 3. Emotional and cognitive competence 4. Good physical and mental health 5. Economic Capital 6. Services and institutions 7. Social capital 8. Built environment 9. Artistic and creative opportunities 10. Media/marketing 11. Ethnic, racial, and intergroup relations

*** Spectrum of Prevention: The Spectrum of Prevention was developed by Larry Cohen in 1983. It is comprised of six levels of increasing scope including a focus on individual services and community education, but emphasizing changes in institutional practices and government policies. The Spectrum helps shape comprehensive strategies that result in "a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts." It has been used in a range of violence prevention efforts, including violence against women, youth violence, and violence related to young children.

Level of Spectrum	Definition of Level
1. Strengthening Individual Knowledge and Skills	Enhancing an individual's capability of preventing injury or illness and promoting safety
2. Promoting Community Education	Reaching groups of people with information and resources to promote health and safety
3. Educating Providers	Informing providers who will transmit skills and knowledge to others
4. Fostering Coalitions and Networks	Bringing together groups and individuals for broader goals and greater impact
5. Changing Organizational Practices	Adopting regulations and shaping norms to improve health and safety
6. Influencing Policy and Legislation	Developing strategies to change laws and policies to influence outcomes

Return to top of page

Putting Prevention at the Center of Community Well Being
preventioninstitute.org