Violence Prevention: Addressing this Issue in Childhood
Trisha Ruby, Alison Scheiderer,
Anne Osberger, Sondra Munves,
Gina Ligori, Jackie Webel
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines violence as "the intentional use of physical force or
power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has
a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation" (CDC, 2004).
Youth Violence has become an epidemic in the U.S. …
Homicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10-24 years.
In a nationwide survey, 17% of students reported carrying a weapon (e.g. gun, knife, or club) on one
or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey
In an average month, public secondary schools nationwide experience 525,000 attacks, shakedowns and
robberies and 125,000 threats against teachers (Comm. For Prevention of
Youth Violence, 2004).
Among students nationwide, 33% reported being in a physical fight one or more times in the 12 months
preceding the survey (CDC, 2004).
American children die by suicide, homicide and gunfire at a greater rate than children in 25 other
industrialized nations (CNN.com, 1997).
According to the CDC, even if firearms-related homicides were excluded, the U.S. had a homicide rate
for children almost 4 times the other countries’ rates (CNN.com,
Who Is At Risk?
"P" Risk Factors:
Antisocial beliefs and attitudes
History of early aggressive behavior
Involvement with drugs, alcohol and tobacco
Racial/ethnic minorities attending urban schools
Poor behavioral control
Social cognitive or information-processing deficits
"E" Risk Factors:
Exposure to violence and family conflict
Being a victim of abuse or neglect (physical, sexual, emotional)
Authoritarian childrearing attitudes
Little or no supervision/support from parents or caregivers
Socially disorganized neighborhoods
Low community participation
(National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center [NYPVRC], 2002)
"O" Risk Factors:
Preoccupation with violence in media
Lack of involvement in conventional activities
Poor peer relationships
Poor academic performance
Involvement in gangs/association with delinquent peers
Controversy Surrounding Youth Violence
How are children exposed to violence?
What can we do?
Increased security in schools
Gun Free Schools Act (1994) – in order to receive federal funding a state must suspend any student
carrying a firearm on school premises for at least one year.
Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative – discretionary grants awarded to set up community programs
involving schools and other agencies to foster healthy development and violence prevention.
(U.S. Dept of Education, 2004)
Views youth violence as a grave public health issue that must addressed through prevention
OT’s are uniquely qualified to be at the forefront of this issue due to our involvement with
students, teachers and families.
Role for OT’s
"OT practitioners could plan activity groups centered on motivating, esteem-building, pro-social activities…to
help youths identify, express and re-channel troubling emotions, before violence is seen as the only alternative. OT’s
could…help educate parents about child and teen development milestones, and suggest ways to strengthen the parent/child
Characteristics of Successful Programs
Parent training and education, or family therapy
Changing the home environment as well as the school environment
Active student participation
Broad community involvement
Giving kids skills – cognitive, behavioral, psychosocial
(Center for Study and Prevention of Violence,
Just days before the Columbine school shooting in Littleton, CO, Dr.Carolyn Baum addressed
OTs at the annual AOTA conference, stating that occupational therapy has a role in the schools going far beyond facilitating
education. OTs can address social behavior problems, violence, and suicide that are so prevalent in America’s youth.
Johansson, C. (2004). OT Prescription for School Violence.
American Occupational Therapy Association. [Online]. Available: www.aota.org/members/area7.
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center. (2004). Youth Firearm-Related
Violence. [Online]. Available: http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/facts/firearm.asp.
United States Department of Education. (2004). Safe Schools/Healthy Students
Discretionary Grants. [Online]. Available: http://www.ed.gov/programs/dvpsafeschools/index.html.
"Occupational therapy is the critical link between activity and social participation."
~Dr. Carolyn Baum