CDC Publishes Technical Package to Help Prevent Youth Violence

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new resource, A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors (PDF), to assist states and communities in preventing youth violence. The technical package uses evidence-based strategies to help prevent or reduce public health problems, particularly youth violence, among 10 to 24-year olds, and supports the CDC's STRYVE (Striving To  Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere) Initiative for preventing youth violence. STRYVE works to increase public health leadership to prevent youth violence, promote the widespread use of youth violence prevention strategies based on the best available evidence, and achieve national reductions in youth violence.

 

Youth violence, defined as harmful behaviors that can start early and continue into young adulthood, is a leading cause of death and nonfatal injuries in the United States. Each day approximately 12 young people are victims of homicide and an additional 1,374 are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal physical assault-related injuries. Youth violence may include fights, bullying, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence. It typically involves young people hurting other peers who are unrelated to them and who they may or may not know well. Youth violence not only harms the individuals involved, but witnesses, family members, and members of the community. Youth violence can result in physical harm, such as injuries or death, as well as psychological harm, increased medical and justice costs, decreased property values, and disruption of community services. The effects of youth violence are long-lasting. "Youth who experience violence as victims, perpetrators, or witnesses are more likely to have behavioral and mental health difficulties, including future violence perpetration and victimization, smoking, substance use, obesity, high-risk sexual behavior, depression, academic difficulties, school dropout, and suicide."

 

The CDC's technical package focuses on six identified strategies that can be used as a guide in the decision-making process by states and communities, including colleges and universities. The strategies aim to:

 

 

The technical package discusses the rationale behind each strategy as well as different approaches that can be taken to implement the strategy, potential outcomes, and evidence that the strategy has been successful in youth violence prevention. Also included is an analysis of benefits relative to costs, other sectors that play an important role in implementing the highlighted strategies, notably education, the importance of monitoring and evaluation, a conclusion, extensive references, and an appendix with a summary of strategies and approaches.

 

For more information on youth violence or this technical package, please visit the CDC's youth violence prevention website, VetoViolence, or email the STRYVE Action Council.