Press Release

CDC publishes "Best Practices in Youth Violence Prevention"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the release of a community-oriented sourcebook that describes strategies for successfully implementing proven or promising interventions to prevent youth violence.

"Violence is a public health issue because of its tremendous impact on the health and well-being of our youth. Violent injury and death disproportionately affect children, adolescents, and young adults in the United States," said CDC Director Jeffrey P. Koplan, M.D., M.P.H.

The 216-page publication, entitled "Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention: A Sourcebook for Community Action", is the first of its kind to look at the effectiveness of specific practices in four key areas: parents and families, home visiting, social and conflict resolution skills, and mentoring. Communities are eager to find ways to stop youth violence. "Best Practices," which was produced by CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, offers insight into the practices that make prevention programs work.

These programs are drawn from real-world experiences of professionals who have successfully worked to prevent violence among children and adolescents. "Best Practices" also documents the science behind each best practice and offers a comprehensive directory of resources for more information about organizations that have used these methods.

Youth violence, once thought to be a problem only in inner-city neighborhoods, is now a nationwide concern. In 1998, for example, more than 3,400 persons under the age of 19 died as a result of violence. That's an average of 9 deaths daily from violence. The homicide rate for young people in the United States is the highest of all developed countries. In fact, from the ages of 10 through 19, homicides from firearms are the second leading cause of death.

"Best Practices" is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/bestpractices.htm Or, you can obtain a free copy by writing to CDC-NCIPC, Division of Violence Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway (K-65), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, or by calling 1 888 252-7751.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES