Community violence can lead to an increased risk of significant physical injuries, as well as mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). People who experience multiple adverse childhood experiences, including exposure to violence, are more likely to have both short-term and chronic physical and mental health conditions and behavioral difficulties (CDC, 2022).
Community violence can cause a substantial burden in communities but especially so in racially segregated and under-resourced neighborhoods (The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence [EGSGV], 2021). Community violence disproportionately impacts adolescents, particularly those in African American communities (Voisin, 2007).
In 2019, New York State had 804-gun deaths of which 50 were children and teens between the ages of 0-19 (EGSGV, 2021). Between 2017 and 2021, Erie County averaged a rate of violence with firearms that was more than double the average rate for New York State in that same time period (Erie County Department of Health [ECDOH], 2023). Black people in Erie County experience a vastly disproportionate amount of gun violence; between 2018 and 2020 the homicide rate due to firearms was 25.9 per 100,000 people in the Black community while the rate for all races combined was 4.9 per 100,000 (ECDOH, 2023).
This multi-level resilience building intervention will focus on individuals, especially -youth and adolescents (ages 5-19) living in the 14208-zip code of Buffalo, NY, located in Erie County. This target population was chosen as a result of a mass shooting happening at the local grocery store, the only one in this neighborhood, Tops Market on Jefferson Ave on May 14, 2022. According to American Community Survey, demographics of this neighborhood show that the majority of the residents are individuals who identify as Black or African American (Bureau, n.d.). Total population for zip code 14208 is 11,029 of which 8,350 identify as Black or African American.
The multi-level resilience building intervention will focus on the effects of a mass shooting and will use the CDC’s Social-Ecological Model. This model uses a four-level social-ecological model to help public health professionals better understand violence and the effect of potential prevention strategies (CDC, 2022). The multi-level intervention will consist of different programming at various levels to help address and sustain prevention efforts over time.
- At the individual level, programming will focus on the individual level which identifies biological and personal history factors that may affect individuals’ response to violence (CDC, 2022). Approaches at this level are aimed at affecting attitudes, beliefs, and individual behaviors related to violence. Programming includes educational sessions and individual counseling.
- At the relationship level, programming will focus on the interplay of close relationships, with peer groups and family members (CDC, 2022). Here approaches are aimed at examining how these relationships contribute to one’s experiences with violence. Programming at this level includes mentor and peer programming, as well as family counseling.
- At the community level, social settings such as schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods are the focus of the interaction of individuals and communities and violence (CDC, 2022). Interventions may be focused on improving the physical and social environment which could address conditions that may lead to violence. Interventions at this level include vacant lot revitalization.
- At the societal level, programming will focus on the various societal factors that help to encourage or inhibit violence (CDC, 2022). Interventions will look at social and cultural norms, as well as policies that may serve to promote or prevent continued gun violence. A Gun Violence Coalition will be formed to engage community members in policy and advocacy work to address gun violence policies as well as other policies addressing the social determinants of health within the 14208 community.
References
Bureau, U. S. C. (n.d.). Explore census data. https://data.census.gov/table?...id=ACSST5Y2021.S0101
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 8). Community violence prevention |violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...yviolence/index.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 18). The social-ecological model: A framework for prevention |violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. The Social-Ecological Model. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...ecologicalmodel.html
Erie County Department of Health. (2023). (rep.). Health Equity in Erie County. Buffalo, NY.
The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. (2021, February 9). New York gun deaths: 2019. The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. https://efsgv.org/state/new-york/
Voisin, D. R. (2007). The effects of family and community violence exposure among youth: Recommendations for practice and policy. Journal of Social Work Education, 43(1), 51–66. https://doi.org/10.5175/JSWE.2007.200400473
Comments (0)