Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action

Research and experience in communities show it is possible to prevent youth violence. Everyone has an important role in stopping youth violence before it starts. CDC's Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action [PDF 2.3MB] and its companion guide, Taking Action to Prevent Youth Violence [PDF 1.7MB], provide information and action steps to help each of us be a part of the solution.

What Actions Can You Take Today?

Community leaders and members,
public health professionals,
adults who care for or work with youth, and
young people,

can take action today to reduce youth violence. There are relatively easy steps we can each take to make a difference and help prevent youth violence.

Check out the steps for each type of community member mentioned above by downloading the guide, Taking Action to Prevent Youth Violence [PDF 1.7MB].

And remember, you might fall under more than one category.

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What Are the Youth Violence Prevention Approaches with the Best Available Evidence?

Most communities need to identify a range of approaches and implement several specific activities in order to achieve local prevention goals. Some examples are presented below, but it is by no means a comprehensive list of evidence-based approaches or an endorsement of any specific program, policy, or practice.

Rather, the information is offered to help provide a sense of available evidence-based approaches and activities communities can select from and implement. More information about the specific programs, policies, and practices listed as examples can be found online through CDC’s STRYVE Strategy Selector Tool. This resource provides information about other programs, policies, and practices that have also been found to help prevent youth violence. Please keep in mind that the selection of specific programs, policies, and practices depends on the needs and resources of your community.

Universal School-based Youth Violence Prevention Approaches expanded

Provide students and school staff with information about violence, change how youth think and feel about violence, and teach nonviolent skills to resolve disputes.

An example is Life Skills Training (LST) which teaches anger management and conflict resolution. Evaluations of this program have shown significant reductions in fighting and delinquency, including a 26% reduction in high frequency fighting within one year.

Other evidence-based universal school-based programs include: Good Behavior Game, Positive Action, Project Towards No Drug Abuse, and Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies.

Parenting Skill and Family Relationship Approaches collapsed

Intensive Family-focused Approaches collapsed

Policy, Environmental and Structural Approaches collapsed

Street Outreach and Community Mobilization collapsed

Early Childhood Home Visitation collapsed

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What Is Youth Violence?

The general term “Youth Violence” is used to describe when youth between the ages of 10 and 24 years intentionally use physical force or power to threaten or harm other people. Youth violence can take different forms. Examples include fights, bullying, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence. Youth violence typically involves young people hurting other youth.

All communities and all young people are affected by youth violence. Specific types of youth violence vary across locations and groups, but no place or person is immune. Youth can face violence from their peers in their neighborhoods, on the streets, online, and at their schools. Regardless of where youth violence happens, the consequences are felt by everyone—young victims, their friends, families, neighbors, schools, communities, and local organizations.

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How Does Youth Violence Harm All of Us?

Youth violence jeopardizes the future strength and growth of all our communities. It harms the physical, mental, and economic health of all residents. The negative impact of youth violence is felt by families, schools, emergency departments, and entire neighborhoods.