The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #72221

Adriana Alvarado, BS, Alameda County Public Health Department, 1000 Broadway, Fifth Floor, Suite 5000, Oakland, CA 94607, 510-208-5926, aalvard@co.alameda.ca.us and Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH, Department of Surgery, Stanford University Hospital & Clinics, 3200 Middlefield Road, Suite B, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

For greater than 5 years, Project New Start, the Alameda County Tattoo Removal Program has served adolescents and young adults seeking to dissociate from violent lifestyles by providing laser treatments to remove of gang-related and other stigmatizing tattoos once believed to be permanent. The satisfactory cosmetic results of erasing visible and negative tattoos is merely one component of an integrated program requiring any youth participant to receive mentoring, complete a high school education or G.E.D. program, and fulfill at least 50 community service hours. A central component of the program mandates that the youth identify the community-based organization or entity to serve. To date the program has treated over 160 participants and offered over 150 laser treatments to a diverse population of young adults with the majority of youth remaining free of violent and negative lifestyles while entering the workforce, sustaining gainful employment, or seeking higher education. The tattoo removal program, primarily sustained by a core staff of inter-agency partners and volunteers, has expanded to include additional clinic sites within the county, and celebrates high visibility and wide recognition despite operating with limited financial resources. By reviewing the conception, design, and implementation of a comprehensive tattoo removal program, the authors illustrate the features of partnering to perform a youth violence intervention that makes it, by comparison, an uncomplicated and inexpensive alternative to other consequences and costs of violence.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize innovative opportunities to engage youth, the community, and public health.
• Identify creative methods to partner with community based organizations, juvenile services, and health care entities to reduce youth violence
• Apply lessons learned to develop and implement a successful violence reduction program for youth at risk.

Keywords: Youth Violence,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.