Module 1 Summary for Frontline Practitioners
- Violence is an important community issue and we all have a role to play in helping communities be safe and healthy places.
- There are many different types of violence that communities and individuals may be concerned about. Targeted violence is one type of violence that occurs within communities. Although infrequent, these types of events are important because their impact may extend beyond those directly involved.
- The public health approach is framework that focuses on violence prevention at multiple levels that has been successfully used to prevent different forms of violence. It uses a socio-ecological lens to target risk and protective factors that can reduce the likelihood of violence and improve individual and community well-being. This training is part of a larger targeted violence prevention effort based on the public health approach.
- Building and maintaining healthy communities requires everyone’s involvement. Community members have a role to play as engaged bystanders, or someone who intervenes when they see or hear behaviors that promote violence. Frontline practitioners may sometimes be gatekeepers, or someone who is able to use their relationships with others to learn more about the concerns observed and to connect others to services.
- This training focuses on what we can do to keep people safe by helping frontline practitioners notice, identify, and take action. It is based on the premise that equipping individuals to intervene can increase the chances of intervention and play an important role in community health and well-being.
- Helping people acquire knowledge and skills can help individuals overcome barriers to acting when they see or hear something concerning. Healthy, respectful, helpful, and safe communities are those in which residents feel responsible and are willing to intervene.