Promoting Prevention, Targeting Teens: An Emerging Agenda to Reduce Domestic Violence

• NCJ Number: 206959
• Author(s): Ann Rosewater
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 39 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Sale Source: Family Violence Prevention Fund
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report reviews what is currently known about domestic violence, including its causes and consequences, and outlines the strategies offering the greatest potential for keeping women and children safe from violence.

Abstract

Despite the progress made over the past 25 years to reduce the harm caused by domestic violence, there remain serious challenges to preventing this widespread social problem and reducing its deleterious effects on women and children. In 2002, the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF), at the invitation of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (the Foundation), undertook a yearlong investigation of current intervention strategies and opportunities for prevention. The investigation involved interviews with researchers, practitioners, and community leaders in a wide range of fields including child welfare, domestic violence services, criminal justice, and child and adolescent development. Chapter 1 offers an analysis of contemporary responses to domestic violence, as well as challenges facing the prevention and intervention movement. The report charges that too often prevention has been absent from policy and programmatic initiatives, which have mainly focused on crisis response and criminalizing domestic violence. Chapter 2 underscores the importance of reaching the adolescent and young adult population. Millions of children and adolescents are exposed to domestic violence annually; research indicates that these children will suffer behavioral and emotional problems, as well as delays in cognitive functioning as a result. Chapter 3 reviews the research literature concerning at-risk youth populations; estimates indicate that approximately 5.6 million people aged 14 to 24 years could be at-risk for domestic violence victimization. Chapter 4 focuses on the key themes emerging from the child and adolescent research literature that can provide a framework for creating violence prevention strategies, including programs for reducing aggressive behavior and conduct problems. Chapter 5 outlines a proposal for a new domestic violence prevention agenda focused on promoting healthy relationships among adolescents and young adults. Prevention work should also target perpetrators and focus on changing social norms. Appendix, notes