"Violence is not the problem of one neighborhood or group, and the response and solutions are not the responsibility of one sector of the community or of one agency, professional group, or business. Coming together and owning this problem and the solutions are central."

-Dr. Deborah Prothrow-Stith, Harvard School of Public Health

What do we mean by the Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention?
Frequently Asked Questions
Video: VPC and the Public Health Approach

What do we mean by the Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention?

• Public Health is concerned with the health and well being of the community.
• The problem is defined by data.
• A multi-disciplinary approach is required. There is no single discipline that will solve the problem; it requires multiple sectors to change the problem.
• Violence is a complex problem and requires complex solutions.

The Public Health Approach to preventing violence focuses on developing strategy, tools, and capacity to address the complex underlying contributors to violence. The Public Health approach addresses multiple forms of violence (e.g. school, community, family, intimate partner, sexual) and acknowledges the relationships amongst and from which they stem.

Violence - in its multiple forms - is prevalent in far too many homes, schools, workplaces, and communities. It results in death, injury, trauma, disability, and fear, stymies worker productivity and academic achievement, contributes to the deterioration of families and communities, and carries a heavy financial burden.

By reducing risk, strengthening resilience, and changing norms, violence can be prevented. The VPC works with governmental and community groups to expand efforts from a focus on the aftermath of violence to upfront approaches that address violence before it occurs. By focusing on both the underlying contributors and the infrastructure, staffing, and policies that contribute to them, the Public Health Approach fosters a comprehensive approach to preventing violence.

For more information on the public health approach, visit:

Prevention-Based Approach Workshop - Presentation Slides

A Public Health Approach to Preventing Violence: FAQ

Video: VPC and the Public Health Approach

This video is of an interview with Billie Weiss, M.P.H. discussing the public health approach to violence prevention and the role of the VPC in bringing together diverse sectors across the Los Angeles area. The video is divided into 10 minute segments and the entire interview is 54 minutes long. 

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