NCJ Number
212444
Journal
Journal of School Violence Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: 2005 Pages: 133-146
Date Published
2005
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the importance of including families and communities in interventions to reduce school violence.
Abstract
Media attention of recent school violence has heightened fear of school violence among parents and students and has ushered in the development of school-based violence prevention programs. Perpetrators of school violence are influenced by myriad factors, including their peer group and their cultural and family environments. As such, programs designed to reduce school violence that are solely school focused are less likely to be as effective as programs that focus on a broad range of factors likely to contribute to violence, such as home and community life. Indeed, the main point of this article is that if school violence is to be eradicated, steps must be taken by not only schools, but by parents and communities as well. Several successful violence intervention approaches that incorporate a family component are described, including the Seattle Social Development Project, Multisystemic Therapy, and the Prevention Intervention program. A multidisciplinary approach to youth violence prevention is suggested as the authors call upon school counselors and family therapists to form collaborative partnerships in the reduction of school and community violence. References