Effective Strategies for Violence Prevention
The 12 research sources which identified the research based programs for violence prevention (see previous attachment) also identified effective strategies that may be used as part of any violence prevention program, including School Community Violence Prevention (SCVP). These effective strategies fall into four categories, as below. Use of these strategies is optional in the SCVP program.
Parent Involvement
Including, but not limited to:
- Parent behavioral training to reduce parenting styles that put children at risk for increased aggression and delinquency
- Improving family relationships by promoting healthy, protective parent-child interactions and shared values within a family
- Aiding parents in addressing external demands and stresses that may contribute to violence.
- Parent skills training to supplement the school-based skills training their children are being taught
Student Skills & Behavioral Training
Including, but not limited to:
- Pro-social, thinking-skills oriented programs that encourage (a) self-control and problem solving, (b) principles of conflict resolution, (c) basics of communication and listening, and (d) programs that put information in a social, real-life context
- Individual behavioral training (not “counseling”) that includes behavioral monitoring of academic progress and school behavior
- Student Assistance Program (SAP) approaches that focus on providing violence intervention to selected students. A quality SAP is designed to find students with violent behavior or potential for violent behavior, assess their needs in detail, and identify the optimal available services to improve the behaviors.
- Strategies that mix divergent student groups to enhance pro-social norms, as opposed to isolating at-risk students from general student population
School Environment Improvement
Including, but not limited to:
- Policy and enforcement improvement: (a) establishing and communicating school-wide norms against violence, (b) developing and communicating clear and simple rules; (c) ensuring that rules are enforced fairly and consistently for all students; and (d) training teachers on discipline strategies, rules and policies with integrated promotion of youth development.
- Employing problem solving approaches versus ones that are solely punitive or reactive (e.g., alternatives to suspension).
- Building the school’s capacity to plan and sustain school violence prevention programs.
Community Involvement
Including, but not limited to:
- Minimizing accessibility of weapons, drugs, and exposure to violence within the community.
- Linking student with adult mentors with a focus on promoting and reinforcing pro-social behaviors.
