Not everyone feels safe, supported, or cared for in their environments. Yet having access to nurturing and responsive caregivers, violence-free relationships, and safe environments are important foundations for violence prevention, especially for young children and their early-brain-development.

Abuse impacts all ages.  Did you know that approximately 1 in 7 children in the United States have experienced abuse or neglect within the past year and approximately 1 in 10 older adults experience elder-abuse?

The impacts of violence on families and communities are devastating. Approximately 12 youth per day are victims to homicide. A disproportionate number of youth who are male, racial, or ethnic minorities, and/ or identify as LGBTQ are impacted by youth violence.

Violence is prevalent in intimate partner relationships. According to statistics,1 out of every 3 women experience intimate partner violence. These rates are 1 in 4 for men. In domestic violence homicides, firearms are heavily involved. Violence has permeated relationships and spaces that may no longer feel safe including our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.

The CDC’s Violence Prevention has strategies to help prevent adverse-childhood-experiences from happening, including changing the norms, environments, and behaviors that contribute to childhood abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, community violence, elder abuse, firearm violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and youth violence.

Here are several ways to prevent violence:

• Educate the public on abuse
• Treat mental illness and substance use
• Reduce disparities to increase access to quality supports
• Increase screening for early developmental milestones in children, mental health for all ages, and substance use, starting in youth
• Invest in programming aimed at preventing abuse, neglect, and violence and teach skills such as positive parenting and nonviolent communication skills
• Create safe spaces, with access to positive adults and role models
• Strengthen economic supports—employment, childcare, education, housing

There is urgency to act, and it will take a united effort—from public policy work for systemic change, medical and mental health care, public safety, social services, local business, faith communities and cultural supports. Collectively, we can work together to provide the types of environments where children can thrive.

Resources:

https://youth.gov/youth-topics/violence-prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/index.html

https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/

https://www.thehotline.org/

https://www.vfmn.org/get-help

Written By: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC