A violence trajectory framework was developed collaboratively by public health nurses and elementary school teachers. The purpose was to identify selective indicators as content for preventing precursors to violent behaviors that can be integrated in a school curriculum for minority children in grades 1-6. Themes of insubordination, harassment, bullying and disorderly conduct were addressed using five core values in the school's mission to discuss violence prevention. Culturally competent teaching strategies that accommodated the children's multi-ethnic backgrounds were used to present these themes. The school is located in Hawaii in a district with high domestic violence involving women, large percent of incarcerated fathers, and one of the highest incidence of disorderly conduct among school-age children. Community assessments conducted by public health nurses made salient the need to increase parent involvement in school-based health programs. The framework targets dealing with depression as the bridge from bullying to disorderly conduct. Public health nursing interventions have been designed to work with teachers and parents to prevent precursors of violent behaviors. Psychosocial assessments were conducted among first to sixth graders and indicated high depressive symptoms present among the children and their parents. Results have been achieved in three domains: increased parent involvement in school activities; violence prevention strategies well integrated in the curricula via traditionally academic subjects and ethnic studies on history and values, and documentation of decreased violence episodes onsite among elementary school children.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify precursors of violent behaviors in terms of harassment, insubordination and bullying in school age children. 2. Identify three curricula activities that enhance positive relationships between parents and teachers.
Keywords: School-Based Health Care, Violence Prevention
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.