USA Today Profiles Violence Prevention as Urgent Health Priority

Violence affects the lives of far too many Americans, but increasingly we know what works to stop it. RWJF recently co-sponsored a special section of USA Today focused on prevention and ways to help those exposed to violence break the cycle and overcome its damaging health effects.

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Stopping the Spread of Violence Before it Starts

Violence is an urgent public health problem, and its prevention is essential to building a strong, vibrant culture of health across America. Violence affects people across their lifespan, and it carries profoundly negative effects on people's health and wellbeing, as well as steep economic and societal costs.

We support promising strategies that foster healthy relationships and communities, and pair them with research that builds the evidence to effectively reduce violence.

More research on violence

Collaboration for Violence Prevention

Effects on Attitudes, Experiences, and Gun Violence

In four of Baltimore’s most violent neighborhoods, Safe Streets—a Cure Violence replication site—was associated with fewer homicides and non-fatal shootings during 112 months of observation after implementation of the program. The program also strengthened young people's attitudes against using violence compared to peers in control neighborhoods.

Preventing Teen Dating Violence by Promoting Healthy Relationships

A new evaluation of RWJF's Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships provides insights into how a focus on healthy relationships can help prevent teen dating violence. The study is one of the largest ever to investigate healthy relationship development involving middle school students.

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Stabilizing Fragile Families

Results of a randomized trial reveal that Child First -- which sends a team of health and social service professionals to routinely visit with at-risk families in their homes -- counteracts risk factors for abuse, neglect, emotional disturbance, and developmental and learning disabilities. Mothers reported less parenting stress and families' involvement with Child Protective Services went down.

Keeping Young Men out of the Criminal Justice System

Roca helps high-risk young men break the destructive cycles of poverty, violence, and incarceration.

Perspectives on Violence Prevention

Keeping Children Safe

Bryan Samuels, Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, provides his perspective on how communities and organizations and families can work together to keep children safe, in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Preventing Violence Q&A

In this NewPublicHealth interview, Kristin Schubert, team director of Vulnerable Populations, discusses violence through the lens of public health, RWJF's approach to the issue, and strategies in the field that are working to create change.

60%

of kids < age 17 report exposure to violence, crime, or abuse in their homes, schools & communities.

Adverse ChildHood Experiences

Traumatic childhood events like abuse and neglect can create dangerous levels of stress and derail healthy brain development—resulting in long-term negative effects on learning, behavior and health.

We are part of a growing network of leaders working to increase awareness and understanding of the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress exposure, and the need to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches.

Infographic: Adverse Childhood Experiences

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RWJF Violence Prevention Initiatives

Child First: Mitigating the effects of exposure to toxic stress among very young children and strengthening their families
Cure Violence: Changing norms and behaviors in urban hot spots to prevent shootings and killings
Stabilizing Highest-Risk Families: Pairing supportive housing and health and social services to reduce violence in the home
Start Strong: Building healthy teen relationships and preventing teen dating violence

Learn More About Our Work With

Vulnerable Populations

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Violence Prevention

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