How to combat violence
A coordinated approach
The effects of violence are well-known. Violence is the leading cause of injury, disability and premature death in the United States. More than 2 million people are seen annually by emergency physicians for injuries caused directly by some form of violence — domestic abuse, physical assaults and shootings included.
But the effects extend beyond a one-time event or the pain of a physical injury.
Violence increases the risk of other poor health outcomes, including depression, substance abuse and chronic pain. Living with chronic environmental stress is known to affect birth outcomes. Emerging research even shows that violence is undermining the effectiveness of efforts to promote healthy eating and physical activity in many communities.
Calls for a public health approach to violence reduction are not new. Since taking office, Mayor Tom Barrett directed the Milwaukee Health Department to take on violence as a public health issue.
Looking at violence through a public health lens means that we not only support those doing incredible work on the front lines, like our police, but that we also look far upstream from the violent behavior or crime.
The investments being made
in transitional jobs, community development and programs such as Earn & Learn, through which the mayor has connected over 22,000 youth to jobs, are integral to community health and safety.
In the Milwaukee Health Department, key programs focus on reducing risk factors that can contribute to poor health outcomes, including violent behaviors, while improving health and bolstering protective factors.
Our programs that focus on childhood lead poisoning prevention reduce the risk of cognitive impairment and poor decisionmaking that can result from lead’s lifelong effects on neurological development.
Our evidence-based home visiting programs help families meet goals around job and educational attainment, build parenting skills and connect clients with community assets.
The collaborative teen pregnancy prevention and healthy adolescent development efforts are reducing the risk for poverty and lower educational attainment.
None of this is work that a department like ours does alone. A hallmark of any public health effort is its partnerships.
Just in the last year, the department’s Office of Violence Prevention has worked with partners citywide on initiatives around heroin and opiate abuse, trauma response and firearm violence. Our 33-member Commission on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault continues coordinated efforts to address intimate partner violence, sexual abuse and assault, and human trafficking.
In working to engage youths around gun violence, we partner with colleagues from Community Advocates, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin to form “Coming Together.” This partnership has convened hundreds of youths and agencies to implement youthled efforts to reduce gun violence in their neighborhoods.
The focus of this, and the long list of great work taking place citywide in support of youth development and violence reduction, is on the future.
Milwaukee is not alone nationally in seeing an increase of violence. And we are not alone in our ongoing work to identify collaborative, deliberative solutions.
But we must recognize that Milwaukee’s needs and strengths are different from other cities nationwide that have developed youth violence prevention plans.
While we learn from their successes and challenges, Barrett asked a team to gather ideas from a broad cross-section of people to gauge community interest in building a framework that is right for our city.
We must apply our collective knowledge toward a citywide, coordinated approach aimed at youth violence prevention.
It must be a plan that builds on the strong foundation in place, increases local capacity and innovates new approaches to fill gaps.
A plan that is shaped and informed by people of all ages, cultures, neighborhoods, and professions.
A plan that requires accountability and a process to measure outcomes.
A plan that we can invest in for the long term. A public health approach. With varying perspectives and experiences, all agree that violence is preventable and is a top priority.
We owe it to children to be raised in peace; to assist young people through difficult years; to support victims of violence; and to hold youthful offenders accountable but not give up on them.
Together with all segments of our community, we are building a future our youth deserve.