 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Donna Garske, MPA, Transforming Communities - Technical Assistance, Training and Resource Center, 734 A Street, San Rafael, CA 94901, 415-457-2464, dgarske@aol.com
Over the past several years increasing attention has been paid to gender-based violence. Community members, domestic violence and sexual assault programs and the National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women have initiated innovative and practical strategies that take a preventive and proactive approach in eliminating violence against women and children. Youth consistency emerges as a priority. Curricula and materials about relationship violence have been created especially for high school students. Many organizations are now beginning to examine the age-appropriateness of their services and support for teens.
Applying "primary prevention" theory to our work with youth, however, challenges our underlying assumptions for creating change. What can be said about the current work underway with youth in terms of the 'theory of change" represented in the strategies communities are now implementing? Given what is required to alter social norms, are youth looked as a necessary strategy for social movement building? How does partnering with youth in a movement building fashion challenge our roles as professionals and adults? How does a primary prevention approach challenge us to look deeper at underlying cultural values and beliefs which support the current social "domination based on difference" paradigm? How might program effectiveness and evaluation of work with youth change with movement building as a priority?
In offering a framework for youth as "agents of change," presenter will draw from her experience over the past 17 years as a local community initiator and practitioner working with youth-based prevention programs and 7 years as a national technical assistance and training provider on domestic violence prevention.
Learning Objectives:
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.