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advocacy for systemic change in violence prevention

Advocacy for Systemic Change in Violence Prevention

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by

Kenneth Keith
in

In the U.S., over a third of women and nearly a quarter of men have faced violence from a partner. Domestic violence costs about $8.3 billion a year in healthcare, mental health services, and lost work. Thanks to nonprofits, domestic violence rates have dropped by nearly two-thirds from 1993 to 2010. Yet, new issues like online abuse keep appearing, showing we need ongoing efforts for safer communities.

Key Takeaways

  • Domestic violence remains a widespread issue, with over one in three women and one in four men experiencing violence by an intimate partner.
  • Domestic violence has significant economic costs, totaling an estimated $8.3 billion annually.
  • Advocacy efforts have led to a substantial decrease in the overall rate of domestic violence, but new challenges continue to arise.
  • Systemic change and ongoing advocacy are necessary to address the complex and evolving nature of violence prevention.
  • A comprehensive approach, including community engagement, trauma-informed care, and primary prevention strategies, is crucial for creating safer communities.

Understanding the Systemic Nature of Violence

Domestic Violence: A Pervasive Issue

Domestic violence is more than just a personal issue. It’s a big problem that affects many people, families, and communities. It also shapes our society. We need to look at it from many angles to fix it.

Recent data show more violent events, costing Maryland $3.6 billion. Gun violence in the U.S. costs a huge $460 billion, including $318 billion lost productivity and $93.5 billion from suicide. Every day, 39 people are killed, 117 die by suicide, and 180 get shot.

Domestic violence comes from deep issues like gender inequality and power imbalances. Changing these big problems is key to ending abuse and making communities safer.

Statistic Value
Cost of gun violence in Maryland $3.6 billion
Overall cost of gun violence in the United States $460 billion
People killed by gun violence per day 39
People who die by suicide per day 117
People shot and wounded per day 180
People hurt by a partner or significant other per day 27,400
Children abused or neglected per day 8,640

We need a strong, community effort to tackle domestic violence. Understanding its wide effects helps us aim for a society without violence.

The Role of Community Engagement

Community engagement is key to stopping violence. It brings together community members, groups, and leaders for collaborative action. This helps make safer places by tackling the deep causes of violence.

About 30% of women face physical or sexual violence at some point. Yet, in the last 15 years, some community efforts in low and middle-income countries have shown promise. They work to change social norms that allow violence against women and girls.

The SASA! program trains activists to talk about power, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women in their communities. It has led to changes in how people see gender roles. The Stepping Stones program also saw men changing their ways, like using less violence and drinking less, after just two years.

Even with these wins, we don’t fully understand how these efforts keep communities from accepting violence. Experts say true participation is key, not just showing up. They look to Freire’s ideas on critical thinking and community action to empower people to fight against tough social issues.

The Community Engagement Continuum has four main parts: reaching out, mobilizing, organizing, and holding each other accountable. Projects like the “Hmong Women’s Dialogues Project” show how community organizing can fight domestic violence.

Through community engagement, we can use our collective strength to tackle the deep causes of violence. This teamwork is vital for building safer, fairer communities.

Trauma-Informed Care and Restorative Justice

Dealing with domestic violence needs a full approach that focuses on making survivors safe, healing, and strong. Trauma-informed care and restorative justice are key in helping those hurt by abuse. They understand the deep effects of trauma and aim to help survivors in a way that puts them first.

Supporting Survivors

Using trauma-informed practices, helpers and supporters can make a safe space for trust and healing. This method knows how common trauma is and its effects on our health. It helps survivors take back control and feel strong again, which is key to healing.

Restorative justice is different from old ways of punishing, focusing on making things right, healing, and fixing the community. It brings survivors, those who hurt them, and the community together to find out why violence happens and to make things right. This way, it looks at what survivors need, makes the wrongdoer take responsibility, and helps the whole community feel better.

Trauma-Informed Care Restorative Justice
  • Prioritizes safety and trust
  • Recognizes the impacts of trauma
  • Empowers survivors to regain control
  • Promotes healing and well-being
  • Focuses on accountability and restoration
  • Brings together survivors, offenders, and community
  • Addresses root causes of violence
  • Promotes healing and community well-being

By using trauma-informed care and restorative justice together, we can make a strong support system for survivors of domestic violence and abuse. This teamwork tackles the big issues that lead to violence, making our communities safer and fairer for everyone.

“Trauma-informed care recognizes the prevalence of trauma and its effects, while restorative justice emphasizes accountability, healing, and community restoration. Together, these approaches empower survivors and transform the way we respond to domestic violence.”

Primary Prevention Strategies

Domestic violence is not a given – it can be stopped before it starts. We focus on changing the big picture and the beliefs that lead to violence. We also work on building things that help communities and make abuse less likely.

Healthy relationship education is key for individuals. It teaches young people how to solve conflicts, understand consent, and talk respectfully. This helps them build relationships that are safe and respectful.

Community efforts are also vital. Local groups work together to solve their own problems. This makes people feel they can make a difference and helps everyone work together to stop violence.

Stopping domestic violence means looking at the big issues like poverty, discrimination, and harmful beliefs. By fixing these problems, we can change things for the better. This way, we can make a future without violence.

“Intimate partner violence is rooted in social injustice based on inequality in race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. It is a sign that something is broken in society, leading to the need for both intervention and prevention efforts to address the crisis.”

– Paul Kivel, a violence prevention educator

Advocacy for Systemic Change in Violence Prevention

Advocacy for change in violence prevention is a mix of strategic leadership and allyship. It focuses on solving the problems caused by domestic violence. This approach is key to making social change and safer communities through working together.

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) leads in this effort. They work on economic and family policies, offering analysis, advocacy, and training. Their goal is to improve how we handle domestic violence at all levels through partnerships.

NRCDV aims for a world without violence, focusing on social justice. They support survivors in policy changes, push for their economic security, and advocate for family and community policies. They also work to make affordable housing available.

Programs like the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) are vital. FVPSA has funded over 1,600 shelters and 1,100 service sites for 30 years. VAWA helps with domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, offering services for many communities.

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds services for 4 million crime victims yearly. It supports over 4,400 agencies, including shelters and rape crisis centers. These programs show how advocacy can make a big difference.

A recent report by The Quattrone Center and the City of San Francisco shows the power of advocacy. It offers 16 recommendations for the San Francisco Police Department on preventing domestic violence. Experts helped identify what causes domestic violence deaths.

In conclusion, advocating for change in violence prevention is key. It combines leadership, allyship, and teamwork to make communities safer. By focusing on domestic violence solutions and supporting other causes, we can aim for a violence-free future.

Policy Reform and Legislative Action

Advocacy for change in violence prevention needs strong policy reform and action. The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence leads this effort. They work hard to pass and enforce laws that help address domestic violence.

Closing Legal Loopholes

They focus on closing loopholes that let abusers keep hurting people. Thanks to their work, domestic violence is now a crime under military law. This makes survivors safer and holds abusers accountable.

In 2023-2024, they’ve worked on funding, prevention, and more. They’ve pushed for laws that help victims and make the system better. The Priority Legislation includes funding for victims and a law for child abuse reporters.

Their main goal is to make sure domestic violence services have enough money. They also work to stop violence before it starts. They help survivors get safe homes and fight for economic justice.

They also aim to make the legal system better for survivors. They push for policies that support reproductive, immigrant, and Native justice. They also work to end gun violence.

The Policy Advisory Council gives advice on these tough policy issues. They help make sure all survivors, especially those in marginalized communities, get the support they need.

Intersectionality and Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

Stopping violence needs an intersectional approach. This means seeing how different kinds of oppression and discrimination are linked. We must work together across different fields and social justice movements. This teamwork is key to solving complex problems and making a safer world.

The HAVI program shows how this works. It brings together hospital violence programs to stop community violence. They tackle structural racism and work for fairness and freedom for everyone.

They focus on fixing the unfair way resources are shared, hurting communities of color. The goal is to fight racism and work together for everyone’s freedom.

At HAVI, staff members are part of the effort to make things fairer. They listen to feedback to make their work better. The FREE Task Force helps them tackle racism and work towards fairness.

By using an intersectional and multi-disciplinary approach, HAVI leads the way in fighting for social justice and stopping violence. This teamwork is key to making real change and a kinder world.

Organizational Approach Key Initiatives
Intersectional and Multi-Disciplinary
  • Addressing structural racism and white supremacy culture
  • Implementing equity-focused policies and practices
  • Emphasizing race and understanding intersectionality
  • Examining the impact of racism and developing restorative practices
  • Advancing racial equity internally and externally
  • Valuing feedback and collaborating with community stakeholders

“Addressing violence prevention requires an intersectional approach that recognizes the interconnected nature of different forms of oppression and discrimination.”

Public Health Approach to Community Violence

Gun violence in places like streets and parks deeply affects communities. It causes trauma that goes beyond just those hurt, reaching out to witnesses and neighbors. This violence hits poor, segregated areas hard, due to racist policies. We need a public health approach to tackle this, seeing violence as a complex issue.

Understanding the Impact

Community violence has big effects on many levels. Recent studies show:

  • One in five adults has lost a family member to gun violence, and one in six has seen a shooting. For Black adults, this is even higher.
  • Many Americans avoid going to certain places or events because of fear of mass shootings.
  • In 2019, guns caused 14,414 homicides in the U.S., making up 75% of all homicides.
  • That year, there were 283,503 nonfatal gun crimes reported to the police.
  • Firearms are the third-leading cause of death for people aged twenty-five to thirty-four. For Black males aged fifteen to thirty-four, it’s the top cause of death.

The effects of community violence go far beyond just the victims. It harms the health and well-being of communities and worsens racial inequities. We need a detailed plan that focuses on prevention and solutions from the community.

Statistic Value
Average annual nonfatal firearm injuries by intent (2016-2018) 60,575 unintentional, 47,321 assault, 23,941 suicide attempt
Average annual nonfatal shootings by police (2018-2020) 1,078
Costs related to gun violence (annually) $229 billion

“Addressing this issue requires a public health approach that recognizes the systemic and intersectional nature of community violence.”

Community Violence Intervention Programs

Community violence intervention (CVI) programs are key in fighting gun violence in hard-hit areas. They use credible messengers to connect with people caught in gun violence. When cities and states put money into these programs, they work with many groups and leaders. This makes them very effective.

CVI programs are based on data and come from the communities affected. For example, the Cure Violence model has cut shootings and killings by over 30% in places like Baltimore and New York City. These cities save a lot of money too, getting back $18 for every dollar spent on Cure Violence.

In Sacramento, Advance Peace cut down on homicides and shootings by 20% from 2018 to 2019. This saved $18 to $41 for every dollar spent. Cities like Boston and Chicago have also seen over 30% less injury shootings by using group violence intervention.

More cities are now investing in evidence-informed strategies and data-driven approaches like CVI. This has led to more programs starting in places like New York and Washington, DC. Cities like Austin and Detroit are also starting new programs to tackle the rise in shootings.

States with Violence Intervention Program Funding Policy States without Violence Intervention Program Funding Policy
Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Dakota

Community violence intervention programs are vital in stopping violence and tackling gun violence’s deep causes. By investing in evidence-informed strategies and data-driven approaches, cities and states can greatly reduce gun violence. This makes neighborhoods safer.

“One shooting incident can lead to three or more retaliatory shootings, emphasizing the need for public health-based interventions to mitigate gun violence spread and address community needs.”

Advocating for Evidence-Based Solutions

It’s key to push for evidence-based solutions to stop violence. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions work hard. They find what works to reduce violence and push for better ways to tackle it. They support creating offices to prevent violence, help fund programs, and check on how well things are working.

Research and Evaluation

Doing thorough research and checking how well things work is vital. By looking into the causes of violence and what helps, we can guide leaders. This way, we can make safer communities with evidence-based solutions.

For instance, the Johns Hopkins Center found that strong gun laws lead to fewer gun deaths. This info helps push for laws that stop violence and save lives.

Gun Death Rates Across the United States Rate per 100,000 Population
Northeast Region 10.4
South Region 14.3
Mountain West Region 13.8

Using research and evaluation, we can show why we need strong, evidence-based solutions. These solutions tackle the deep causes of violence in our areas.

Evidence-based solutions

“Rigorous research and comprehensive evaluation are essential to identifying and implementing successful strategies for violence prevention.”

Building Comprehensive Violence Prevention Infrastructure

Creating a strong violence prevention system is key to making communities safer. It means tackling deep-rooted issues and offering a wide range of solutions. This includes everything from early prevention to community programs, all backed by steady funding. By doing this, we can make big changes and build safer places.

Putting money into different violence prevention projects is vital. This money helps tackle things like poverty and lack of jobs, which often lead to violence. It also supports programs that help people at risk of getting involved in violence.

Another important part is working together with many groups. This includes health experts, police, social workers, and community leaders. When these groups work together, they can tackle violence from many sides. This makes a stronger approach to stopping violence.

Expert Experience
Fernando Rejón Over 18 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, trained thousands of leaders nationally on gang intervention and non-traditional community safety strategies, co-created the National Street Outreach Partnership in 2019.
Claudia Bracho Over 25 years of experience working in violence prevention and intervention.
Jessica Canales Many years of experience working with underserved communities in Los Angeles.

Building a strong violence prevention infrastructure helps us make big changes for the better. It takes ongoing effort, working together, and using proven methods to tackle violence’s deep causes.

Cultural Competence and Community-Driven Approaches

Stopping violence needs a plan that respects the culture and needs of marginalized groups. It’s important to work closely with these communities. This means listening to their stories and ideas. It’s the only way to make solutions that really work for everyone.

A study by Betancourt et al. (2016) showed how important cultural understanding is. It helps fix health and healthcare gaps for different racial and ethnic groups. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) in 2010 gave us a clear picture of violence in the U.S.

Groups focused on their community’s culture are key in fighting gender-based violence. They work to reduce shame and discrimination. For instance, the “We, As Ourselves” campaign started in February 2021. It’s all about changing how we talk about sexual violence in Black communities. It offers safe places for Black survivors and fights against bad cultural stories.

Organization Focus
BWB Training Institute for Gender and Cultural Competence Provides culturally specific, intersectional analysis and expertise through various learning platforms for advocates and service providers.
Ujima, Inc. Serves as a national, culturally-specific resource center focusing on providing support and advocating for the Black community in response to domestic, sexual, and community violence.
National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) A Women of Color-led non-profit organization advocating for policy changes and social initiatives related to sexual assault within Communities of Color.

By focusing on cultural understanding and community ideas, we can make plans to stop violence. These plans should meet the specific needs of marginalized groups. This is key to solving the deep-rooted issues of violence.

Collaboration with Allied Movements

Stopping violence needs working together across different social justice groups. We see how different kinds of oppression and discrimination are linked. This helps us work towards a fair and just world for everyone.

Working together is key to using everyone’s skills and resources. It helps us tackle the many reasons why violence happens.

Collective Impact

The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV) has helped State Domestic Violence Coalitions (DVCs) for over ten years. They work closely with the CDC and CDC Foundation to support these coalitions in the DELTA Program. The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) brings together state coalitions, other groups, and supporters. They aim to make it easier to fight domestic violence.

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) works with groups, communities, and people to help them deal with domestic violence. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) works to stop and respond to sexual violence through research and collaboration. The NO MORE campaign also fights to end domestic violence and sexual assault by raising awareness and action.

Groups like PreventConnect, Prevention Institute, and Transforming Communities: Technical Assistance, Training, and Resource Center (TC-TAT) are pushing for new ways to stop violence against women. These groups show how working together can lead to big changes and justice for everyone.

Organization Focus
National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV) Providing technical assistance to State Domestic Violence Coalitions
National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Membership and advocacy for domestic violence coalitions
National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) Strengthening capacity to address domestic violence
National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) Preventing and responding to sexual violence
NO MORE campaign Increasing awareness and action to end domestic violence and sexual assault

By working with these allied movements, we can make a big difference. Together, we can bring about real and lasting change in our communities.

Sustainable Funding and Resource Allocation

For lasting change in violence prevention, we need steady funding and smart use of resources. Domestic violence groups need enough money to help their communities fully. They must have stable funds to run programs that stop and prevent violence.

Groups fighting gender-based violence should have clear values that everyone agrees on. These values should help guide the group’s work. It’s important to listen to the people they help, especially those who have been left behind.

Good leaders in these groups make sure their staff feel supported and safe. They make sure staff get enough time off and listen to their ideas. Having a diverse board helps the group grow and stay strong.

Funding Source Focus Area Target Beneficiaries
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program VAWnet – Digital library and platform for anti-violence advocates, professionals, and individuals Domestic and sexual violence advocates and professionals
Project SPARK Direct services for children and adults impacted by violence 220 children and 160 adults over two years
IMPACT project by My Sisters’ Place, Inc. Therapeutic counseling interventions for families and children 250 families and their children
Family Support and Enrichment Program at Children’s National Hospital, Washington D.C. Services for children and youth exposed to domestic violence and their abused parents Children, youth, and their abused parents
SAFFUTURES program by Community Advocates for Family & Youth (CAFY) in Prince George’s County, MD Services for abused parents and their children Over 500 abused parents and their children

VAWnet has been helping for over 20 years. It’s a key place for people fighting domestic and sexual violence. VAWnet uses its digital library to help end gender-based violence. It offers free resources to help with practice, policy, and funding.

In 2011, the University of North Carolina Greensboro praised VAWnet for linking research with practice in counseling and violence against women. The new VAWnet website started in October 2016. It’s based on research and feedback from many people. It has a powerful search engine, works well on phones, and has tools and videos for help.

“VAWnet is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program.”

In Suffolk County, NY, there were 4,782 victims of domestic violence in 2018. This was 2.6 times more than in Nassau County. About 45,000 to 60,000 kids in Suffolk were hurt by domestic violence in 2018. Nationally, 1 in 5 kids have seen violence at home.

Conclusion

Working towards a safer world means we must work together. We need leaders who plan well and allies who support each other. We also need to tackle the deep-rooted issues that lead to violence. This includes getting communities involved and using strategies that really work.

We must keep researching and advocating for change. This will help us find new ways to stop violence and bring solutions to more people. By focusing on advocacy, systemic change, and violence prevention, we can tackle the main causes of violence. We can help people feel empowered and build a society that values community engagement, intersectionality, and a public health approach.

With the right strategies, we can make a future where everyone can live without violence. This goal might seem hard, but if we stay committed and work together, we can do it. Let’s keep moving forward towards a world without violence.

FAQ

What is the pervasive issue of domestic violence in the U.S.?

Domestic violence is a big problem in the U.S. Over 35% of women and 28.5% of men have faced violence from an intimate partner. It also costs about .3 billion a year in medical care and lost work.

How has progress been made in addressing domestic violence?

Thanks to local and national groups, domestic violence has dropped by nearly two-thirds since 1993. But, new threats like online abuse keep coming. We need ongoing efforts to make communities safer.

Why is community engagement crucial for effective violence prevention strategies?

Getting the community involved is key to stopping violence. By working together, we can make big changes. This teamwork is vital for tackling violence in our communities.

How do trauma-informed care and restorative justice approaches support survivors of domestic violence and abuse?

Trauma-informed care and restorative justice help survivors of violence. They focus on healing and giving survivors back their power. These methods tackle the deep effects of trauma and work to stop violence.

What are primary prevention strategies in violence prevention?

Primary prevention aims to reduce violence by changing the culture and supporting communities. It includes healthy relationship education and community projects.

What are the key components of advocacy for systemic change in violence prevention?

Advocacy for change involves strategic leadership and allyship. It’s about making sure solutions focus on domestic violence and standing with other social causes. This approach drives change and makes communities safer.

How has the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence been instrumental in policy reform and legislative action?

The California Partnership has pushed for strong laws against domestic violence. They’ve closed loopholes and made domestic violence a crime under military law. Their work has made a big difference.

Why is an intersectional approach essential in addressing violence prevention?

An intersectional approach tackles violence by understanding different forms of oppression. Working together across groups creates solutions that help everyone. This teamwork is key to ending violence and oppression.

How does a public health approach address community gun violence?

Gun violence affects whole communities. A public health approach tackles it by looking at the big picture. It involves many people and leaders to find solutions.

What are the key components of effective community violence intervention (CVI) programs?

CVI programs reduce gun violence by reaching out to those involved. They work best with support from cities and states. The strategies should be based on data and community input.

How can advocates push for evidence-based solutions in violence prevention?

Advocates can push for proven solutions by using research. The Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions has found what works. They advocate for these solutions and help set up violence prevention programs.

What is needed to build comprehensive violence prevention infrastructure?

Building a strong violence prevention system needs a mix of strategies and resources. It’s about investing in different approaches and making sure they have the support they need. This way, we can make real change and create safer places.

Why is a culturally competent and community-driven approach essential in violence prevention?

A focused and community-led approach is key to stopping violence. It means listening to and working with affected communities. This ensures solutions are effective and fair for everyone.

How can collaboration with allied social justice movements drive systemic change in violence prevention?

Working with social justice groups helps tackle violence by understanding its roots. Together, we can make big changes. This teamwork is crucial for creating a fair and safe society.

What is the importance of sustainable funding and resource allocation in violence prevention efforts?

Lasting change in violence prevention needs steady funding and resources. Domestic violence groups need stable support to do their work well. Advocates should push for enough funding and support for violence prevention efforts.

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