Understanding the cause is the first step toward recognizing the solution.
As the fields of health equity, chronic disease prevention, and preventing violence and injuries mature, Prevention Institute staff members are often asked, "What's the most important thing to do?" In response, the Institute developed its focus area tools, topical frameworks of proven and promising prevention strategies. The Institute applied a rigorous set of criteria in evaluating a comprehensive range of model strategies and culling the most effective among them. This distilled set forms the core of its topical strategies. They are meant to be tailored locally to improve community environments and support better outcomes in the fields of health equity, nutrition and activity, and prevention of violence and injuries. They include:
THRIVE: Tool for Health and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments
THRIVE helps community members identify, evaluate, and prioritize key factors within their localities that can augment health and safety and strengthen community resilience. Its application in vulnerable communities makes it a valuable tool for accomplishing health equity. THRIVE details how each key factor relates to health and safety outcomes, and it offers effective ways to address these elements within varying contexts. It also suggests related resources for further consideration.
Heath Equity and Prevention Primer
The Health Equity and Prevention Primer is a web-based training series for public health practitioners and advocates interested in policy advocacy, community change and multi-sector engagement to achieve health equity.
ENACT: Environmental Nutrition and Activity Tool
ENACT delineates a concrete, interactive menu of strategies designed to help communities enhance food and activity environments on a local level. It provides communities with "how-to" resources to prioritize and implement strategies for change. A key component is the ENACT Local Policy Database, an online resource cataloging local proven and promising policies for encouraging healthy eating and physical activity within diverse communities and localities nationwide.
Jointuse.org
The jointuse.org website offers an abundance of resources and information on joint use, including a media kit. The Joint Use Statewide Taskforce (JUST) includes organizations representing health, civil rights, community collaboratives, planners, local elected and appointed officials, park and recreation officials, school board administrators, academic researchers, and a growing list of groups interested in ensuring that all children have a safe place to play and be active within easy reach.
UNITY RoadMap: A Framework for Effectiveness and Sustainability
UNITY RoadMap is a framework for helping cities to prevent violence before it occurs. It guides cities in pinpointing the current status of their efforts (the starting point) and describes the core elements necessary to prevent violence (the milestones). UNITY RoadMap also provides information, resources, and examples to support cities in planning, implementing, and evaluating these strategies. It assists them in addressing underlying root causes, which is the foundation for effective, sustainable efforts to prevent violence across a diverse spectrum of urban environments. As a framework, the UNITY RoadMap is most effective when tailored to the needs of a particular city.
RoadMap Assessment Tool
Preventing Violence: A Primer
A solution-oriented resource, informed by a public health perspective. Includes the Three Keys to Preventing Violence, a framework that incorporates public health, law enforcement, social service, and education perspectives. The Three Keys are: 1) Violence is complex and requires a comprehensive approach, 2) Risk and resilience factors must be addressed, and 3) Preventing violence requires an integrated strategy for action.
The UNITY RoadMap Gauge
The UNITY RoadMap Gauge allows you to assess your city's efforts to prevent violence, gauge your city's level of effort and effectiveness, and prioritize areas of focus for a city committed to preventing violence.