Youth Violence Prevention

Youth Violence Prevention MPS Safety Information Session March 11, 2010

Session Out-line • What do we know? • Trends • Risk & Protective Factors • What services & supports are available? • What do we need next?

Types of Violence that may Impact Youth • Child Abuse • Domestic/ Dating Violence • Sexual Violence • Community Violence • Global Violence • Suicide/ Self Injurious Behavior • Youth Violence

CDC Definitions of Youth Violence • “Interpersonal violence is defined as "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person or against a group or community that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation" (Dahlberg and Krug 2002). “ • “Research and programs addressing youth violence typically include persons between the ages of 10 and 24, although patterns of youth violence can begin in early childhood.” • “Youth violence refers to harmful behaviors that may start early and continue into young adulthood. It includes bullying, slapping, punching, weapon use, and rape. Victims can suffer serious injury, significant social and emotional damage, or even death. The young person can be a victim, an offender, or a witness to the violence-or a combination of these”

School Violence • “School violence is a subset of youth violence, a broader public health problem.” (CDC) • School violence is a reflection of the broader issues seen in the community as a whole

Impacts on Youth • Death, disability, intentional injury • Psychological harm—exposure to trauma • Loss of systems and supports: disengagement • Loss of opportunities: ex. fear of going to school, lack of role modeling for healthy relationships

CDC Data • In 2006, 5,958 young people ages 10 to 24 were murdered—an average of 16 each day (CDC 2009a). • Homicide was the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24 years old (CDC 2009a). • Among 10 to 24 year-olds, 87% (5,159) of homicide victims were male and 13% (799) were female (CDC 2009a). • Among homicide victims ages 10 to 24 years-old, 84% were killed with a firearm (CDC 2009a).

CDC Data: Violence Related Behaviors In a 2007 nationally-representative sample of youth in grades 9-12 (CDC 2008b): • 35.5% reported being in a physical fight in the 12 months preceding the survey; the prevalence was higher among males (44.4%) than females (26.5%). • 18.0% reported carrying a weapon (gun, knife or club) on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey. • 5.2% carried a gun on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey. • Males were more likely than females to carry a weapon (28.5% versus 7.5%) on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey. • Males were also more likely than females to carry a gun on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey (9.0% versus 1.2%).

Nonfatal Injuries Due to Violence • In 2007, more than 668,000 young people ages 10 to 24 were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained from violence (CDC 2009a). • In 2007, of a nationally-representative sample of students in grades 9-12, 4.2% reported being in a physical fight one or more times in the previous 12 months that resulted in injuries that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse (CDC 2008b).

Health Disparities • Among 10 to 24 year-olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans; the second leading cause of death for Hispanics; and the third leading cause of death for Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians and Alaska Natives (CDC 2009a). • Homicide rates among non-Hispanic, African-American males 10-24 years of age (62.2 per 100,000) exceed those of Hispanic males (21.5 per 100,000) and non-Hispanic, White males in the same age group (3.4 per 100,000) (CDC 2009a).

Youth Violence: State StatisticsMinnesota

Other Factors to Consider • Media Influences: glamorization, desensitization, normalizing of violence • Intersection of alcohol/drug use and violence • Social Networking (Electronic Aggression/Threats, Cyber-bullying, Cyber-banging) • Access to weapons

Individual Risk Factors(Adapted from CDC Report on Youth Violence Prevention) • History of violent victimization • Attention deficits, hyperactivity or learning disorders • History of early aggressive behavior • Delays in academic and practical skill development • Involvement with drugs, alcohol or tobacco • Poor behavioral control • Deficits in social cognitive or information-processing abilities • High emotional distress • History of treatment for mental health problems • Antisocial beliefs and attitudes • Exposure to violence and conflict in the family

Family Risk Factors(CDC Report on Youth Violence Prevention) • Authoritarian childrearing attitudes • Harsh, lax or inconsistent disciplinary practices • Low parental involvement • Low emotional attachment to parents or caregivers • Low parental education and income • Parental substance abuse or criminality • Poor family functioning • Poor monitoring and supervision of children

Peer/Social Risk Factors(CDC Report on Youth Violence Prevention) • Association with delinquent peers • Involvement in gangs • Social rejection by peers • Lack of involvement in conventional activities • Poor academic performance • Low commitment to school and school failure

Community Risk Factors(CDC Report on Youth Violence Prevention) • Diminished economic opportunities • High concentrations of poor residents • High level of transiency • High level of family disruption • Low levels of community participation • Socially disorganized neighborhoods

Individual/Family Protective Factors (Adapted from CDC Report on Youth Violence Prevention) • Intolerant attitude toward deviance • Strong Cognitive skills • High grade point average • Positive social orientation • Religiosity • Connectedness to family or adults outside the family • Ability to discuss problems with parents • Perceived parental expectations about school performance are high • Frequent shared activities with parents • Consistent presence of parent during at least one of the following: when awakening, when arriving home from school, at evening mealtime or going to bed • Involvement in social activities

Peer/Social Protective Factors (CDC Report on Youth Violence Prevention) • Commitment to school • Involvement in social activities

Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General 2001

Interventions: A Public Health Model

Prevention/ Intervention • Stating the Obvious: Stop it before it starts • We know what works—deliberate, persistent community-wide efforts to build on protective factors and address risks

Building on Protective Factors Community: • Efforts to unlearn culture of violence • Consistent, relevant, culturally respectful adult messages about violence • Social programming: mental health services, vocational opportunities, safe housing • Authentic opportunities for youth to be part of the solution • School Safety & Climate Efforts build community trust

Building on Protective Factors Family: • Parent education/outreach on parenting style, working with schools, media & technology awareness, gang awareness

Building on Protective Factors Individual: • Pro-social skills training • Peaceful conflict resolution opportunities • Mentoring • Service Learning/Peer Education

Addressing Risk Factors • Community: • Community needs assessments, involvement by all stakeholders, long-term investment in social support services • Family: • Early school outreach to families; parent counseling • Individual: • Drug & alcohol treatment • Mental health services • Targeted drop-out & early pregnancy prevention • Re-entry supports

Gang Involved Youth • Myth-busting • Know Risk Factors • Watch for Warning Signs of Involvement • Actively teach resistance skills • Address bullying and other safety concerns early • Programs to positively counter what youth may be seeking from affiliation: money, sense of belonging, opportunity to show leadership

What do we have now? • Social emotional learning resources • CPEO • Vetted Community Partners • Restorative Measures • PBIS/ School Climate Efforts • City-wide Youth Development Activities

What do we need? • Address disproportionality in all areas • Continued data collection—who are we missing? • Improved program sharing & marketing about opportunities across the city • Learn from what has worked in the past, in one neighborhood/community and adapt it to new population • Culture shift: no longer tolerate violence

Youth Violence Prevention