Violence Affecting Youth: Pervasive and Preventable

Abstract

Violence is a preventable, public health crisis in the United States. Young people are powerfully affected by violence, and it is critical that we advance prevention as a vital part of the solution to defend childhood. Violence affects where we live, where we work, where we go to school, and whether our children go to school or if we can work. Experiencing or fearing violence in the street, in their homes, and in their relationships directly impacts children’s physical and emotional health and has long-term emotional and mental health consequences that can, in turn, further affect physical health, relationships, learning, and the ability to work. These impacts are disproportionately felt by disenfranchised and under-resourced communities where children nearly always suffer the most and bear the greatest burden of reduced health and safety, but have the fewest resources to respond to these mounting challenges. Fortunately, there is a strong and growing evidence-base that confirms that violence is preventable if it is approached with commitment and sustained attention. It requires coordinated and comprehensive efforts and resources, and the active cooperation of sectors and fields that might not typically work together. This chapter provides the three keys to preventing violence and emphasizes comprehensive strategies for changing norms so we no longer allow a culture of violence to flourish without protest.