Oral

Adolescent homicide and suicide are now at their highest documented levels. Together with accidents, they are the most prevalent cause of early death. Prevention and health promotion are essential aspects of public health. In many urban communities includes strategies to engage high-risk youth in positive activities to reduce gang violence. This session will describe public-private partnerships infrastructural changes that have proven successful in various cities around the county. Strategies include including community engagement, creative fundraising and resource allocation, and data-informed program and policy development. Innovative use of street outreach workers will be discussed, as will the challenges of maintaining contact with high-risk populations to track outcomes. Finally we will discuss skills needed at the community health worker level to effect early behavior change – skills that are applicable to the full range of public health prevention activities.

Session Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be better able to: • Identify the key elements to a successful community-based, collaborative planning process • Understand a framework to develop public health infrastructure and city-wide capacity to effectively prevent violence • Create an effective system for follow-up of high-risk populations