STRYVE: Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere

Background: Youth violence is a significant public health issue. Homicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 24, and in 2007 more than 668,000 youths were treated in emergency departments for violence-related injuries. Research and experience demonstrates that youth violence can be prevented. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Violence Prevention examined research and consulted with experts and partners in youth violence and health promotion to develop strategic guidance to prevent youth violence. Results: STRYVE: Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere was developed. STRYVE is a comprehensive, multi-sector strategy designed to facilitate and guide community implementation of youth violence prevention strategies, programs, and policies that are based upon the best available evidence and a public health approach. STRYVE delineates specific roles for public health in multi-sector approaches to youth violence prevention. STRYVE is organized by the socio-ecological framework, and provides individual, interpersonal, community, and societal level strategies for preventing violence before it occurs. STRYVE's strategies reduce rates of youth violence, promote healthy and safe child and adolescent development, and support safer and healthier communities. Conclusions: Youth violence is a complex issue that crosses institutional boundaries, and successful violence prevention requires attention to the multiple issues, policies, and systems that promote or protect against the development of violent attitudes and behaviors. STRYVE addresses this complexity by providing a comprehensive, multi-sector strategy to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of youth violence prevention efforts in communities.