Several months ago, the Violence Profile of Sonoma County was published online. The profile aims to deliver three messages:
(1) Violence Impacts Health
(2) Violence is More than Physical
(3) Violence is Preventable
In addressing these aims, the profile provides a strong explanation for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) having lasting effects on health and behaviors, including violent behaviors such as emotional abuse, intimate partner violence, and suicide attempts. The profile also uses data to explain violence in Sonoma County as well give an astounding estimate of the cost of violence in Sonoma County: $92 million.
In explaining the tangible and intangible costs of violence that add up to $92 million, the report poses a thoughtful question: "How about... $92 million dollars spent in these sectors instead: housing, education, and health care. Imagine how quickly violence would decline."
This important question speaks to the culture change the Sonoma County community is trying to create. Stemming from our initial ACEs movement, as a community we aim to shift priorities to prevention instead of continuously paying both the monetary and social costs of violence.
To read the profile, see the attached file.
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