USA Today's Violence Prevention series examines the role violence plays in our society--from gun violence, street violence, domestic violence and trauma to community-based public health strategies for preventing violence. This series features an editorial by Prevention Institute's Rachel Davis, highlighting the UNITY Initiative to bring a public health approach to preventing youth violence to US cities.
By Rachel Davis
September 25, 2013
Originally published in USA Today
For the past eight years, Prevention Institute has been privileged to work with 20 US cities and their health departments helping them develop strategies to prevent violence affecting youth. This effort, called the UNITY Initiative and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has taught us a lot.
Here’s one lesson: People often ask me, “What one program can we adopt to prevent violence in our community?” My answer is always the same: “It’s not about one program; it’s about a comprehensive approach.”
Preventing violence is not just a law enforcement issue and can’t be solved solely by cops making arrests. Every city needs a comprehensive plan with strategies that address the underlying reasons for violence. It takes determined leadership by the mayor and widespread participation by city agencies and the community. Cities with the most coordination between the mayor’s office, police department, public health, schools and community groups have the lowest violence rates. Cities that sustain funding, focus and commitment to a multipronged approach have the best chance of maintaining their success.
Minneapolis, a city once nicknamed Murderapolis because of its high homicide rate, recognized the need for action, guided by a plan. The City Council declared violence a public health issue. The mayor's office convened city agencies, community, civic and business groups and hundreds of young people. Together they created a Blueprint for Action with four basic objectives:
- Connect every youth to a trusted adult.
- Intervene at the first sign of risk.
- Restore youth who have been in the juvenile justice system.
- Unlearn the culture of violence.
Today, a city bus service helps young people avoid gang areas. City cops work as resource officers and mentors in schools and parks. An employment and training program helps youth get jobs. An anonymous tip line lets young people text or call in information on potential violence. The result: from 2006 to 2010, arrests of young people for violent crime dropped 61 percent. From 2006 to 2009, killings of people 24 and younger fell 76 percent.
Another public health-based strategy, CureViolence, has also produced results. Street outreach workers detect and conduct mediations to interrupt violence in high-crime neighborhoods while working to change community attitudes about violence. Independent evaluations of the program in Brooklyn, Chicago and Baltimore show that, when implemented, it can dramatically reduce shootings, killings and retaliation murders. Baltimore’s Safe Streets program, the longest-running effort based on the CureViolence model, reduced non-fatal shootings by up to 44 percent and homicides by up to 56 percent between 2007 and 2010.
A multipronged approach in Los Angeles addresses gang violence in a city that’s been labeled the gang capital of the world. The city reaches out to gangs to de-escalate tensions, offers resources to people involved in gangs and their families, and works to make public spaces safe. A training academy run by a nonprofit group teaches gang intervention specialists (including former gang members) and police officers the best strategies for working with gangs.
The Summer Night Lights program keeps city parks open at night with a variety of recreation activities and resources including hip-hop contests and slam poetry, late-night swimming and basketball, reading and tutoring programs, staffed by young people hired from the neighborhood. This multipronged approach led to a 35 percent reduction in gang-related violence and a 57 percent drop in gang-related homicides during summer months.
This work is also important because people in violent neighborhoods are more likely to experience serious health problems, including asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as mental health problems related to the stress of living with violence and poverty. People who are afraid of violence walk and bike infrequently, stay away from neighborhood parks, and restrict their children’s outdoor play. Grocery chains are often reluctant to locate in neighborhoods associated with violence, helping create “food deserts,” with few full-range markets and lots of convenience stores. This makes it hard for residents to buy fresh, healthy foods and be physically active, especially if they’re afraid to travel at night.
At Prevention Institute, we like to say, “A good solution solves multiple problems” because so many social, environmental and health problems are related. Reducing violence and making neighborhoods safer doesn’t just lower murder rates and reduce crime statistics, it makes people healthier in other ways. A growing number of cities are tackling both issues at the same time by implementing new community design features that make it safer for people to go to the park, take a walk and ride a bike or bus—and easier to buy healthy food and exercise.
Violence is preventable. Young people need access to safe, quality schools, caring adults, paying jobs and community programs that provide experience and hope. Cities need funding, training and technical assistance. Violence imposes a terrible burden on youth, families, neighborhoods and cities. Reducing it can stimulate economic development and help communities thrive. It’s time to make the investments that will pay off now and for generations to come.
Resources from Prevention Institute
-Violence has many impacts and far-reaching consequences for young people, families and neighborhoods, beyond serious physical injury and death. Children who are frightened can’t focus on learning; people are less likely to be active and fit if their local park isn't safe. Prevention Institute has produced a series of fact sheets describing the links between violence and chronic disease, mental illness, learning and school, and health disparities. Check them out here.
-Read the UNITY Policy Platform to learn more about the strategies that cities need to prevent violence—and the kind of supports that will enhance their success. Find them here.