Youth Violence: Lessons from the Experts.

For full text: http://youth.ucsf.edu/nahic/products.html.

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Health Resources and Services Administration (DHHS/PHS), Washington, DC. Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

Policymakers; Practitioners

Adolescents; Child Health; Children; Community Programs; Comprehensive School Health Education; Conflict Resolution; Elementary Secondary Education; Family Influence; Family Violence; Guns; Health Promotion; Homicide; Interpersonal Competence; Student Behavior

This monograph summarizes what is known about youth and violence, identifying 10 myths that confound people's understanding of the real causes of youth violence. It focuses on: what contributes to youth violence (e.g., children exposed to domestic violence are at risk of using violence, children and adolescents use guns when they are easily accessible, and exposure to violence on television affects child and adolescent behavior); statistics on violence (e.g., violence in the community and community deterioration contribute to youth violence, using substances increases the risk of violent youth behavior, and society's acceptance of guns); what protects children and youth from violence (e.g., children need connections with families, schools, and friends; children need to learn how to resolve conflict nonviolently through example, children need a safe, supportive place to go after school, and children need a healthy home environment); descriptions of school and community violence prevention programs; influences on responses to violence (e.g., boys often exhibit more overt behavioral problems after exposure to violence than girls, children are more affected if the perpetrator or victim is known to them, and chronic exposure is psychologically more harmful than a single exposure). A list of related resources and their contact information is provided. (Contains 61 references.) (SM)

2002

ED460197