Together, in Winnebago and Boone Counties, Illinois, the Violence Prevention Collaborative and the Rockford Health Council's Crime and Violence Priority Project Team developed a public health model process to engage multi-sectors (silos) to work together. The goal was to develop a strategic plan for reducing crime and violence in the two-county area. Four focus areas/issues were selected: Crimes against the Elderly, Child Abuse, Partner Abuse, and Youth Violence. A four-phase approach to the problem was implemented: Problem Analysis, Strategic Issue Identification, Systems Assessment and Strategic Recommendations. During the four phases, local, state, and national statistics, literature review, risk and resiliency factors, direct and indirect contributing factors helped define the problem. Among the four focus areas, common strategic issues identified included emotional investments, social isolation, stress, unhealthy family relations and anger. System assessment was described in three parts: Environmental Context, System Overview and System Adequacy. Recommendations were presented in seven areas: Working in Partnership: Collaboration and Coordination; Prevention Through Public Awareness; Enhancing the Services Delivery System; Strengthening Workforce Capacity; Changing the Rules: Policy and Advocacy; Resource Development and Assessment; and Strengthening Program Effectiveness through Evaluation. The development of a violence prevention strategic plan in two northern Illinois counties proved to be a successful tool in the collaboration of several disciplines, including public health, a local health council, university-based research, medicine, law enforcement, the judicial system, human services agencies, the faith community, and local citizens.
Learning Objectives: 1. Create a forum in which multi-disciplinary collaboration may take place. 2. Identify and prioritize key violence issue in their community. 3. Assess established community systems and programs and identify gaps in services.
Keywords: Violence, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.