How To Break Down Silos in Violence Prevention?

Leveling the playing field . . . decreasing economic and social inequities . . . must be a key part.  And doing that in itself requires breaking down silos.  Public Health/Social Services/Violence Prevention is too often not at the table for these socioeconomic discussions.  These groups need to be more forceful in finding a seat at the table, or becoming part of the meal.  Simultaneously addressing community violence. It is pretty difficult when your world may be taken up with paying rent, food, heat, to think too much beyond that.  We also need to rethink how we "teach" parenting.  The emphasis should be on the brain:  how it grows, how it functions, what impacts it, what it impacts, how to nurture and support it throughout life.  Breathing / birthing is all great information to know, but it is for the mother, not the child and the child's future. It is easy to teach about changing diapers and baths, car seats are pretty ubiquitous (even though we still don't have the infrastructure to assure correct placement). But to reflect the current research on brain development, translate it into usable language, this is the current challenge. (see www.braininsights.org).   These are two huge systemic changes that will require crossing silos.  But I believe will have the most impact and break intergenerational povery, marginalization, and poor outcomes.

Thanks for this video Martha. It is excellent and the common sense I see all the time.  I remember when my mother went from AFDC to TANF and welfare to work. It is pretty hard to work when you live 60 miles from a job, your husband is dying but you have to leave him to care for your two young kids and frankly you don't make enough money driving 60 miles to cover the gas.  So the kids run around unsupervised - get hurt, feel neglected and the cycle continues.  This is so common with piece meal programs. I love the video.  Thanks a bunch. 

Here is a great and short line drawing video to show how systems can/need to change to help connect the work with people in the center. The Full Frame Initiative proposes a framework that focuses on five domains of wellbeing. 

see what you think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8yZRS3PWio

Thanks for the link to the article on efforts to reduce child poverty in the U.K. I note that most of that was during the Labour Government of Tony Blair; I would be interested to know if these successes have continued in the 4 years since this article was published, under the leadership of the Conservatives. And while I still love my home country, I'm aware that there are still areas of significant social deprivation and discontent, which produce more than their share of violence.  Fortunately in the UK, it is still relatively rare for guns to be used extensively; the preferred weapon for London youth, for example, is a knife - still often deadly for the victim. But as you say, at least concerted efforts have been made to reduce the vast gaps in socio-economic well-being.

I agree with fighting poverty as far as extreme poverty decreases resistance but it can be done. Britain did it. There is lots of information available concerning Britain's War on Childhood Poverty as an example: http://www.irp.wisc.edu/public...us/pdfs/FF8-2010.pdf

But breaking down Silos --- I think folks have to realize all these factors are inter-related. So I am not a pediatrician… I am a "whole child" care giver.  I am not a juvenile justice officer --- I am a "whole child" care giver.  I am not a child psychiatrist (anyway the brain is one of the most complex organs in the body). I am a "whole child" care giver.  That is how I see myself.  I don't think as a pediatrician - I just treat a cough…. I treat a family and find others who can help me.  Hum that doesn't provide any real scientific information on how to break down silos --- probably it is an ego thing --- this is my turf -- that yours --- when we can let go of turf and instead consider "what is best for children?' That would break down silos.  

Martha:

Thanks for your reponse, with some great points. It's clearly a complex and very difficult issue to address, when violence is so pervasive in many communities, and across the country (not to mention, world-wide).  At the family level, we have systems that attempt to address child abuse, even though many child protection agencies still struggle - understandably - with how to keep children in 'safe' families. With domestic violence, it gets even harder, although there are as we know, many agencies doing great work to help women (and hopefully their children) stay safe through individual help.

One of my biggest questions with regard to making familes 'strong' or 'resilient', is how to address general community and societal violence which comes in so many forms. The sad fact seems to be that violence is glorified in many ways, especiialy for young people; and while this is hardly a new concern, I believe we somehow have to address the level of violence that is now standard viewing on many TV shows, video games etc. This would seem to be a huge political issue as it would presumably mean taking on the 'entertainment' industry, which would be no mean task. And for a country which has no political will to even enforce real gun-control, I don't hold out much hope for real change in the near future.

However, lest this sounds too defeatist, I believe that one factor that must be addressed in any initiative to get to the root of some of the violence is poverty; again, no easy task, but an essential one, as we know that it affects so much of the inequality in society. Families with more economic resources - a job, money, health insurance, decent housing etc. - tend to be healthier in many regards. And addressing poverty is also clearly a political issue, and one that has proved to be intractable over the 50 years since 'war' was declared on it in this country. So whatever ideas are generated for RWJ in cross-systems initiatives to reduce violence, I believe that every community involved needs to see what is being done at a 'local' level to really increase economic opportunites for everyone, and especially those families and communities experiencing the deepest levels of poverty. That would be one way to make families stronger.

Nick

There is a national group, the Move to End Violence, that is addressing this very question, at least within the work to end violence against women and girls, and could be a very useful resource and potential partner. www.movetoendviolence.org. 

Thanks Nick for the question. I think that is a great point and can mean many things.  "Family" can be broadly defined, knowing that what family means can be really different depending on circumstances and community.  And then "Strenghening" too: we want to hold a big wide space for what that might be. Some ideas that come to mind are how do we build resilience for individuals, families and communities? (Resilience could be defined as "functioning well in the face of adversity" how do you define resilience?) How do we increase protective factors for families? How can we increase parents' abilities, strengthen their connections with their children and even focus on satisfaction with parenting? Does streghtheing families require strengthening communities and enhancing opportunities? How do we think about "strengtheing families" in the face of pervasive and persistent inquities? At RWJF on our Strengthening Vulnerable Children and Famlies Team, we picture children and young families at the center of an approach that is working to address violence and trauma and build a culture of health.   What do children and their families need?  What do you think strengtheing families means?  I would love to hear what "strengthening families" means to you. Thanks!

Hi, Martha:

In the request, can you define what you understand by the term 'strenghtening families'?  I think that would help inform the discussion.  Thanks.