Background: The Community Assessment Tool (CAT) was designed to help communities in Michigan measure various aspects of violence and risk factors in their community and to help them make informed decisions. The forms of violence addressed in the CAT are child abuse, juvenile, gang, dating, wife-battering, rape and sexual assault, elder abuse, robbery, homicide, and hate crimes.
Objective: Results are used to improve existing violence prevention programs, develop new initiatives, coordinate efforts with community groups, and educate elected officials and the media. The CAT reveals strengths and weaknesses in a community's effort to make their homes, schools, and streets safer.
Methods: The CAT pulls together state and county level data on a number of violence categories and risk factors for violent behavior. Data were collected from the Census, surveys, police, health care systems, social services, and schools.
Results: The data reveal which forms of violence are problematic in different communities. Additionally, the risk factor analysis demonstrates areas to focus for violence prevention.
Conclusions: With this information communities can make systematic comparisons and examine trends over time. This comprehensive system of analysis assists communities in interpreting data, investigating issues related to violence, and ultimately to aid in decision making. The CAT helps communities to focus by making decisions about which types of violence are more of a problem in their community, or which issues they think resources should be used for. Reducing or preventing violent behavior will involve making changes that will affect the associated risks.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Define their community. 2. Compare rates from their community with the state and/or other communities. 3. Identify Risk Factors 4. Determine areas where community should focus. 5. Inform a community response
Keywords: Community Planning, Violence Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.