RPA-Assig #2 - see attached

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 1/7

The I m pact o f G un V io le n ce o n C hild re n , F am ilie s, & C om m unit ie s

Pu blis h ed i n C hild re n ’s V oic e V olu m e 2 3, N um ber 1  

by Juli e C olli ns a n d E m ily Sw ovela nd

O ve r t h e p ast f e w y e ars , g u n v io le n ce h as r is e n t o t h e f o re fr o nt o f p u b lic c o nsc io usn ess. M uch o f t h e

d eb ate h as f o cu se d o n g u n r e gu la tio n a n d k e ep in g d ead ly w eap o ns o ut o f t h e h an d s o f p o te n tia l k ille rs ,

p artic u la rly t h ose w it h m en ta l i lln esse s. U nfo rtu nate ly , f a r l e ss a tte n tio n h as b een d ed ic a te d t o t h e

im pact o f g u n v io le n ce o n v ic tim s. W hile i n d iv id uals k ille d a n d i n ju re d i n a tr o cit ie s s u ch a s t h e S an d y

H ook a n d A uro ra T heate r s h ootin gs a re p u b lic ly r e m em bere d a n d m ourn ed , v ic tim s o f t h ese t r a g e d ie s

are n ot l im it e d t o t h ose m en , w om en , a n d c h ild re n k ille d , i n ju re d , o r p re se n t d urin g t h ese h orri

T he c o nse q uen ce s o f g u n v io le n ce a re m ore p erv asiv e a n d a ffe ct e n tir e c o m m unit ie s, f a m ilie s, a n d

ch ild re n . W it h m ore t h an 2 5% o f c h ild re n w it n ess in g a n a ct o f v io le n ce i n t h eir h om es, s c h ools , o r

co m munit y o ve r t h e p ast y e ar, a n d m ore t h an 5 % w it n ess in g a s h ootin g, i t b eco m es n ot j u st a n i s su e o f

gu n r e gu la tio n, b ut a ls o o f a d dre ssin g t h e i m pact o n t h ose w ho h av e b een t r a u m atiz e d b y s u ch v io le n ce

(F in ke lh or e t a l., 2 009).

A lt h ough m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s a re p art o f t h e d eb ate a b out g u n r e gu la tio n, t h e d is c u ssio n h as f o cu se d

p rim arily u po n t h e m en ta l h ealt h o f t h e p erp etr a to rs ’ o f g u n c rim es. I n f a ct, m ost p eo ple w it h m en ta l

illn esse s a re n ot v io le n t a n d a re a ctu ally m ore l ik e ly t o b e v ic tim iz e d t h an t h ey a re t o v ic tim iz e o th ers

(T ep lin e t a l, 2 005). W hile m uch m ore c a n b e d one t o a d dre ss t h e p ro b le m s o f p erp etr a to rs w it h a m en ta l

illn ess, t h at c o nve rs a tio n a lo ne w ill n ot a d dre ss t h e p ro b le m s a sso cia te d w it h g u n v io le n ce . T he C hild

W elf a re L e ag u e o f A m eric a ( C W LA ) b elie ve s i t i s t im e t o b ro ad en t h e f o cu s o f t h e g u n d eb ate t o i n clu d e

th e s o cia l, e m otio nal, p hysic a l, a n d m en ta l h ealt h i m pact o f t h ose t r a u m atiz e d b y g u n v io le n ce , e sp ecia lly

c h ild re n a n d y o uth . I n t h eir 2 002 a rtic le “ M it ig atin g t h e E ffe cts o f G un V io le n ce o n C hild re n a n d Y o uth ,”

J a m es G arb arin o a n d h is c o lle ag u es p o in te d o ut t h at “ c h ild re n e x p o se d t o g u n v io le n ce m ay e x p erie n ce

n egativ e s h ort a n d l o ng-t e rm p sy ch olo gic a l e ffe cts , i n clu d in g a n ge r, w it h d ra w al, p o sttr a u m atic s tr e ss,

a n d d ese n sit iz a tio n t o v io le n ce ” ( G arb arin o e t a l., 2 002). T hey a ls o i n d ic a te t h at t h e r e se arc h s h ow s t h at

“c e rta in c h ild re n m ay b e a t h ig h er r is k f o r n egativ e o utc o m es i f t h ey a re e x p o se d t o g u n v io le n ce .” T he

gro ups t h ey i d en ti

p ro xim it y , t h ose e x p o se d t o h ig h l e ve ls o f v io le n ce i n t h eir c o m m unit ie s o r s c h ools , a n d t h ose e x p o se d t o

v io le n t m ed ia .”

   

A BO UT O UR W ORK TR A IN IN G & E V EN TS P U BLIC ATIO NS

GET I N VO LV ED 

D O NATE B EC O M E A M EM BER SIG N I N

 6/10/22, 5:05 PM The Impact of Gun Violence on Children, Families, & Communities – CWLA

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 2/7

Addre ssin g t h e s o cia l, e m otio nal, a n d p hysic a l w ell- b ein g a n d m en ta l h ealt h n eed s o f c h ild re n a n d y o uth

e x p o se d t o g u n v io le n ce i s a c o m ple x p ro ce ss t h at r e q uir e s p ro per i d en ti

r e q uir e s a s u f

in fo rm ed t r e atm en ts t o c o ncu rre n tly u nd ers ta n d a ll o f t h ese c o nce rn s. I n a d dit io n, i t r e q uir e s o ur s o cie ty

t o

vio le n ce . T his i s n o e asy t a sk , g iv e n t h e m an y s e ttin gs i n o ur w orld t h at c o nta in v io le n t s it u atio ns o r

im ag e ry : s c h ools , h om es, c o m munit ie s, a n d t h e m ed ia .

A t C W LA ’s 2 013 N atio nal C onfe re n ce , o ur s ta ff a n d i t s M en ta l H ealt h A dvis o ry B oard b ro ugh t t o ge th er

p ro fe ssio nals i n t h e c h ild w elf a re a n d m en ta l h ealt h

vio le n ce . T o ge th er, t h ey s ta rte d a d ia lo gu e a b out t h e o ft e n i g n ore d i m pact o f g u n v io le n ce o n t h e w ell-

b ein g o f c h ild re n , y o uth , f a m ilie s, a n d c o m munit ie s a n d d is c u ss e d c u rre n t e ffo rts t o a d dre ss t h is i s su e;

th ey a ls o i d en ti

p o te n tia l s o lu tio ns. I n

v is io n f o r a ll c h ild re n a n d y o uth t o g ro w u p s a fe ly , w it h l o vin g f a m ilie s a n d s u ppo rtiv e c o m munit ie s, t h e

co nve rs a tio n f o cu se d o n t h e s h are d r e sp o nsib ilit y o f i n d iv id uals , f a m ilie s, o rg an iz a tio ns, a n d

co m munit ie s f o r e n su rin g t h e s a fe ty a n d w ell- b ein g o f c h ild re n a n d y o uth . S p eci

fo cu se d o n t h e c u lt u re o f v io le n ce a n d f e ar i n m an y o f t h e c o m m unit ie s t h ey s e rv e , t h e d if

c o m batin g g u n u se a n d v io le n ce , t h e n eed f o r c o m m unit y d eve lo pm en t t h at i s f o cu se d o n r e d ucin g

vio le n ce , t h e i m pact o n t h e c h ild re n a n d y o uth e x p o se d t o v io le n ce , a n d w hat i s n eed ed t o a d dre ss t h e

m en ta l h ealt h n eed s o f t h ose e x p o se d t o g u n v io le n ce .

G uns a n d V io le n ce

CW LA ’s   N atio n al B lue prin t  v o ic e s t h e n eed t o p ro te ct t h e f u nd am en ta l r ig h ts o f c h ild re n a n d e m ph asiz e s

th e o b lig atio n t h at a ll i n d iv id uals h av e i n e n su rin g a s a fe a n d s u ppo rtiv e e n vir o nm en t f o r c h ild re n a n d

yo uth . I n l in e w it h t h e  N atio n al B lue prin t , p artic ip an ts a t o ur 2 013 c o nfe re n ce d is c u ss e d t h e w ay s t h at

se rv ic e p ro vid ers a n d c o m munit ie s w ere w ork in g t o p ro te ct t h e r ig h ts o f c h ild re n i n r e la tio nsh ip t o g u n

le gis la tio n. T hey a ls o p o in te d o ut t h e n ece ssit y o f a d dre ssin g g u n r e gu la tio n a n d v io le n ce a t t h e n atio nal

le ve l,

M an y p artic ip an ts v o ic e d f r u str a tio n w it h t h e r o le g u ns c u rre n tly h av e i n A m eric a n s o cie ty a n d t h eir

f r e q uen t g lo ri

a n d t h at m an y c it iz e n s f e el e n tit le d t o g u n o w ners h ip a n d d is lik e i n te rv e n tio ns t h at l im it t h eir a cce ss.

U nfo rtu nate ly , g u n o w ners h ip i s o ft e n a sso cia te d w it h t h e d ev asta tin g v io le n ce t h at t a ke s p la ce i n

c o m munit ie s a ro und t h e c o untr y – esp ecia lly t h ose i n w hic h t h ere i s a h ig h p ove rty r a te , w hic h c a n

in cre ase t h e d if

p o rtr a y al o f g u ns g lo ri

re so lu tio n. T hey p o in te d o ut t h at t h e m ed ia f a ils t o p ro vid e t h e c o unte r- m essa g e t h at g u ns a re

d an ge ro us, s h ould b e s to re d p ro perly , a n d a re n ot t o b e u se d f o r c o n 6/10/22, 5:05 PM The Impact of Gun Violence on Children, Families, & Communities – CWLA

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 3/7

Giv e n t h e c u rre n t c lim ate c it in g p ers o nal l ib ertie s v is -a -v is t h e U nit e d S ta te s C onstit u tio n, p artic ip an ts

r e co gn iz e d t h at c h an gin g A m eric a n v alu es r e gard in g g u n o w ners h ip i s a n u nre alis tic g o al. T hey a g re ed

th at t h e f o cu s s h ould b e o n p ro vid in g g u n e d uca tio n a n d g u n s a fe ty t r a in in g t o g u n o w ners a n d n on-

o w ners a lik e . I n a d dit io n, c o m munit ie s s h ould h av e a cce ss t o a ccu ra te i n fo rm atio n r e gard in g t h e r e alit ie s

o f g u n u se , s u ch a s t h e a n nual n um ber o f g u n h om ic id es a n d t h e n um ber o f c h ild re n k ille d b y g u ns. T hey

su gge ste d t h at e ffo rts m ust b e m ad e t o c o unte r t h e g lo ri

p ro per g u n u se , i llu m in atin g t h e d an ge rs g u ns p o se t o c h ild re n a n d y o uth , a n d e x p la in in g a lt e rn ativ e s t o

g u n o w ners h ip f o r e n su rin g p ers o nal a n d h om e s a fe ty .

C om munit y C ult u re

Confe re n ce p artic ip an ts a ls o v o ic e d c o nce rn s a b out t h e p erv asiv e c u lt u re o f f e ar a n d v io le n ce t h at e x is ts

in m an y o f t h e c o m mu- n it ie s t h ey s e rv e . A t t h e c o m m unit y l e ve l, p artic ip an ts o b se rv e d t h at g u ns a re

o ft e n u se d i n r e sp o nse t o f e ar. T hey p o in te d o ut t h at c h ild re n a n d y o uth l iv in g i n v io le n t n eig h b orh ood s

fe el a t r is k ; w it h out n onvio le n t c o n

pro b le m s. G arb arin o a n d h is c o lle ag u es, l ik e w is e , s ta te d t h at “ e x p o su re t o g u n v io le n ce a ls o c a n

d ese n sit iz e y o uth t o t h e e ffe cts o f v io le n ce a n d i n cre ase t h e l ik e lih ood t h at t h ey w ill u se v io le n ce a s a

m ean s o f r e so lv in g p ro b le m s o r e x p re ss in g e m otio ns.” O ft e n , i t i s o nly t h ro ugh c a rry in g a n d u sin g

w eap o ns t h at t h ese y o uth f e el s a fe , s e cu re , a n d p ro te cte d . B ut d esp it e g u n o w ners h ip , m an y c h ild re n a n d

yo uth r e m ain u npro te cte d f r o m t h e v io le n ce w it h in t h eir c o m m unit ie s.

P artic ip an ts n ote d t h at

r e su lt s . A ll a g re ed t h at w hen c o m munit ie s, f a m ilie s, c h ild re n , a n d y o uth a re e m po w ere d t o w ork

to ge th er a n d c h alle n ge n egativ e v alu es, t h ey c a n b egin t o c h an ge t h e c u lt u re o f v io le n ce a n d r e d uce

co m munit y -w id e f e ar. W hile n ot a q uic k p ro ce ss, i s e ss e n tia l t o e n co ura g e c o m m unit ie s t o t a ke

o w ners h ip o f t h e s a fe ty a n d w ell- b ein g o f a ll c h ild re n , y o uth , a n d f a m ilie s. C onsis te n t w it h t h e s ta n d ard s

in C W LA ’s   N atio n al B lue prin t , c o nfe re n ce p artic ip an ts f u rth er s u gge ste d w ork in g o ne-o n-o ne w it h

fa m ilie s, c h ild re n , a n d y o uth t o h elp t h em b uild t h eir p ro te ctiv e f a cto rs , d eve lo p r e silie n cy, r e gu la te t h eir

e m otio ns, s tr e n gth en c o pin g s tr a te gie s, a n d t r a n sfo rm n egativ e l if e v ie w s i n to o nes o f h ope f o r a b ette r

fu tu re . T here w as a ls o w id esp re ad a g re em en t a b out t h e i m po rta n ce o f t e ach in g p are n ts h ow t o m od el

n onvio le n t b eh av io rs f o r c h ild re n a n d e d uca tin g t h em o n p o sit iv e m eth od s o f d is c o ura g in g v io le n t

alt e rn ativ e s.

In a d dit io n t o s h if t in g c o m munit y a cce p ta n ce o f v io le n ce a t a m ic ro l e ve l b y w ork in g w it h f a m ilie s,

c h ild re n , a n d y o uth d ir e ctly , p artic ip an ts s u gge ste d t h at c h ild w elf a re a n d m en ta l h ealt h a g e n cie s m ust

a ls o e n co ura g e n eig h b orh ood r e sid en ts t o b eco m e c o nnecte d t o o ne a n oth er a n d o ppo se v io le n ce a t t h e

m acro l e ve l– i.e ., w it h in t h e g re ate r c o m munit y . A ge n cy l e ad ers a n d t h ose w ho p ro vid e s e rv ic e s c a n

e n co ura g e t h ese c h an ge s b y n urtu rin g r e sid en ts ’ s o cia l c o nnectio ns a n d f o ste rin g s tr o ng s o cia l n etw ork s

w it h in t h e c o m munit y . O nce u nit e d w it h t h e l a rg e r c o m m unit y , t h ey w ill b e i n a p o sit io n t o m ore e asily

i n 6/10/22, 5:05 PM The Impact of Gun Violence on Children, Families, & Communities – CWLA

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 4/7

Effe cts o n C hild D eve lo pme nt

The c o nse q uen ce s o f e x p o su re t o v io le n ce o n c h ild d eve lo pm en t a re v e ry r e al. C W LA ’s   N atio n al

B lue prin t  p o in ts o ut t h at c h ild re n a n d y o uth e x p o se d t o c h ro nic t r a u m a c a n e x p erie n ce i n hib it e d b ra in

d eve lo pm en t, p ro d ucin g a l a stin g i m pact o n l if e o utc o m es. L ik e ly a r e su lt o f s u ch e x p o su re , p artic ip an ts

n ote d n um ero us s k ill d e

hav e h ig h r a te s o f p ove rty a n d c rim e. A s s u gge ste d b y t h e r e se arc h , m an y c h ild re n e x p erie n ce p ro b le m s

wit h v io le n ce a n d a g gre ssio n b eca u se t h ey l a ck n onvio le n t c o n

vio le n ce a n d a g gre ssio n i s f u rth er e x a ce rb ate d b y e m otio nal o ve rlo ad f r o m e x p o su re t o v io le n ce .

C hild re n a n d y o uth e x p o se d t o v io le n ce e x p erie n ce s ig n i

re gu la te t h eir e m otio ns, a s a r e su lt o f d eve lo pm en ta l i m pacts f r o m t h eir f r e q uen t e x p o su re t o t r a u m a.

T heir e m otio ns a re o ft e n i n te rn aliz e d a n d c a n l a te r e ru pt i n a g gre ssio n a n d v io le n ce .

T he L is te n in g S essio n a tte n d ees a ls o a ck n ow le d ge d t h at t h ese s k ill d e

an d y o uth l e arn in g b eh av io r t h ro ugh o b se rv in g a n d m im ic k in g t h e a ctio ns o f t h ose a ro und t h em . W hen

ad ult s e x h ib it a g gre ssiv e a n d v io le n t b eh av io r, s u ch b eh av io r i s o ft e n i n te rp re te d a s a p pro pria te a n d

acce p ta b le . A c y cle o f v io le n ce s ta rts w hen c h ild re n a n d y o uth o b se rv e a n d e m bra ce n egativ e a d ult

b eh av io rs a n d , e ve n tu ally , m od el s u ch i n te ra ctio ns w it h t h eir o w n c h ild re n . W it h m uch a t s ta ke , a l a u nd ry

lis t o f s tr a te gie s a n d s u ppo rts w as o ffe re d t o a d dre ss t h e i m pact o n c h ild d eve lo pm en t a n d r e d uce t h e

n egativ e i m pact o f e x p o su re t o v io le n ce . P artic ip an ts l a u d ed t h e i m po rta n ce o f e arly , f a m ily -le ve l

p re ve n tio n, s u gge stin g t h at p are n ts m ust b e a ssis te d i n a cce ssin g t h e s o cia l s e rv ic e s n ece ssa ry t o

s tr e n gth en p ro te ctiv e f a cto rs , b uild r e silie n cy, h elp t h eir c h ild re n r e gu la te t h eir e m otio ns, d eve lo p

co pin g s k ills , a n d p ro vid e p hysic a l a n d p sy ch olo gic a l s a fe ty .

P artic ip an ts a ls o i d en ti

v io le n ce t o r e d uce t h e i m pact o f t r a u m atic s tr e ss, i n clu d in g c o n

sim ple p ro b le m -s o lv in g t e ch niq ues t h at a re n onvio le n t a n d /o r f o rc e -a v e rs iv e . I n a d dit io n t o d eve lo pin g

co m munic a tio n s k ills , c h ild re n a n d y o uth n eed t o b e t a u gh t t o i d en tif y a n d r e gu la te t h eir e m otio ns; o nce

th ey b ette r u nd ers ta n d t h eir e m otio ns a n d h ow t h ey a ffe ct t h eir b eh av io r, t h ey c a n l e arn h ow t o

a p pro pria te ly r e sp o nd t o t h eir f e elin gs i n w ay s t h at a re n ot h arm fu l t o t h em se lv e s o r o th ers .

M en ta l H ealt h C once rn s

The L is te n in g S essio n a tte n d ees r e co gn iz e d t h at u ntil c h ild a n d y o uth e x p o su re t o v io le n ce i s e lim in ate d ,

ch ild hood m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s w ill l ik e ly c o ntin ue t o g ro w . T he g ro up n ote d t h at t h ey a re w it n essin g

d ra m atic g ro w th i n t h e n um ber o f c h ild re n a n d y o uth w it h m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s, a n d t h at s e rv ic e

p ro vid ers m ust a ctiv e ly w ork t o e d uca te t h e p u b lic o n c h ild hood m en ta l i lln ess. M en ta l i lln ess c o ntin ues

to b e s tig m atiz e d , a n d p u b lic h esit a n cy t o d is c u ss t h e m atte r i s d etr im en ta l t o c h ild re n a n d y o uth w ho

are i m pacte d b y m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s. I t w as f u rth er n ote d t h at m an y p are n ts , t e ach ers , a n d w ork e rs

a re o ft e n u ned uca te d r e gard in g m en ta l h ealt h c o nd it io ns a n d , a s a r e su lt , f a il t o i d en tif y e arly s ig n s o f 6/10/22, 5:05 PM The Impact of Gun Violence on Children, Families, & Communities – CWLA

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 5/7

men ta l i lln ess, d ela y in g c h ild a n d y o uth a cce ss t o t r e atm en t. I t w as p o in te d o ut t h at e ve n o nce t r e atm en t

is r e ce iv e d a n d a d ia g n osis i s g iv e n , m an y a d ult s l a ck k n ow le d ge a b out s p eci

u nsu re o f h ow t o i n te ra ct w it h c h ild re n a n d y o uth w it h a m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m . W it h out p ro per

ed uca tio n, p are n ts , t e ach ers , a n d o th er w ell- m ean in g

yo uth ’s m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s.

In a d dit io n t o r e d ucin g r is k f a cto rs a n d d eve lo pin g p ro te ctiv e f a cto rs a n d r e silie n cy a m ong y o uth

c u rre n tly s u ffe rin g f r o m m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s, p ro fe ss io nals a g re ed t h at c o m m unit ie s m ust a ls o h elp

c h ild re n a n d y o uth a t-r is k o f m en ta l h ealt h p ro b le m s d eve lo p p ro te ctiv e f a cto rs t o s h ie ld t h em f r o m t h e

n egativ e m en ta l h ealt h o utc o m es t h at f r e q uen tly r e su lt f r o m e x p o su re t o t r a u m atic l if e e ve n ts .

S u m min g i t U p

Pre ve n tin g c h ild hood e x p o su re t o v io le n ce a n d m it ig atin g t h e i m pact o f p re v io us e x p o su re i s t o o l a rg e a

j o b f o r a n y o ne g ro up o r o rg an iz a tio n. C hild w elf a re , p re ve n tio n, a n d m en ta l h ealt h a g e n cie s c a n not

ta ck le t h is p ro b le m a lo ne. A ge n cie s m ust e m bra ce t h e m essa g e o f C W LA ’s N atio nal B lu ep rin t a n d

en co ura g e c o m munit ie s t o t a ke r e sp o nsib ilit y f o r t h e w ell- b ein g o f c h ild re n a n d y o uth . C om batin g t h e

n egativ e i m pact o f v io le n ce o n c h ild re n a n d y o uth r e q uir e s t h e c o lla b ora tio n o f t e ach ers , p rin cip als ,

so cia l w ork e rs , p o lic e o f

sc re en in g f o r e x p o su re t o v io le n ce , m it ig atin g t h e i m pact o f v io le n ce t h ro ugh e m otio nal s u ppo rt, o r

pre ve n tin g v io le n ce t h ro ugh c o m munit y a ctiv is m a n d p o lic y i n it ia tiv e s. O nly w hen a ll f a ce ts o f s o cie ty

r e co gn iz e t h e t r u e n egativ e i m pact t h at e x p o su re t o v io le n ce h as o n t h e w ell- b ein g o f c h ild re n , y o uth ,

fa m ilie s, a n d c o m munit ie s, a n d a ctiv e ly w ork t o a d dre ss t h is p ro b le m , w ill s u b sta n tiv e c h an ge t a ke p la ce .

W hile i t w ill t a ke c o lla b ora tio n b etw een v ario us a g e n cie s a n d s p eci

in c h ild a n d y o uth e x p o su re t o v io le n ce t o o cc u r, m an y p ro fe ss io nals a re a ctiv e ly

D octo rs a ro und t h e c o untr y a re t a lk in g t o p are n ts o f y o ung c h ild re n a b out g u n s a fe ty a n d p ro te ctin g

th eir c h ild re n f r o m h arm . T e ach ers , p rin cip als , a n d s c h ool a d m in is tr a to rs a re a ctiv e ly w ork in g w it h

s tu d en ts , r e in fo rc in g p ro -s o cia l b eh av io rs a n d t e ach in g c o n

fa it h s a re t e ach in g c h ild re n a n d y o uth a b out l o vin g t h em se lv e s, o th ers , a n d t h eir c o m munit ie s, a n d a b out

h ow t o b e m ora lly c e n te re d p eo ple . S o cia l w ork e rs a re e d uca tin g p are n ts o n p o sit iv e c h ild re arin g t o

r e d uce e x p o su re t o d om estic v io le n ce a n d o th er h om e-b ase d t r a u m as. L o b byis ts a n d p o lit ic ia n s a re

A ll o f t h ese p ro fe ssio nals , a n d m an y m ore , a re a ctiv e ly w ork in g t o r e d uce v io le n ce a n d i m pro ve t h e w ell-

b ein g o f c h ild re n a n d y o uth a cro ss t h e c o untr y . I n d iv id ually , t h ey m ake s m all b ut m ean in gfu l

co ntr ib utio ns t o t h e e ffo rt, b ut t o ge th er, a s a u nit e d f r o nt, t h ese i n d iv id uals a n d a g e n cie s c a n m ake a

s ig n i

an d i n t h eir c o m munit ie s. R ece n t i n cid en ts l ik e t h e F o rt H ood s h ootin g o nce a g ain r a is e t h e i s su e o f g u n

vio le n ce . A lt h ough t h is h ap pen ed o n a m ilit a ry b ase , c h ild re n , y o uth , f a m ilie s, a n d t h e s u rro und in g 6/10/22, 5:05 PM The Impact of Gun Violence on Children, Families, & Communities – CWLA

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 6/7

Sh are T his S to ry , C hoose Y o ur P la tfo rm !        

A bout t h e A uth or: a d m in

c o m munit ie s h av e a ll b een i m pacte d . W hile t h e i s s u e o f g u n v io le n ce s e em s s ta lle d i n t h is c u rre n t

C ongre ss, i t c o ntin ues t o b e a c e n tr a l c o nce rn f o r a ll o f u s.

C W LA ’s L is te n in g S essio n h elp ed b egin t h e d ia lo gu e o n c u rre n t e ffo rts t o p re ve n t c h ild a n d y o uth

e x p o su re t o v io le n ce a n d m it ig ate t h e i m pact o f p re v io us e x p o su re . N ow i s t h e t im e f o r a ll t o c o m e

to ge th er a n d

Ju lie C ollin s i s C W LA ’s D ir e cto r o f S ta n d ard s f o r P ra ctic e E xce lle n ce . E m ily S w ove la n d s e rv e d a s a n

in te rn a t C W LA i n 2 013. T he a u th ors o ff e r s p ecia l t h an ks t o L in d a S p ears a n d A nd re a B arto lo .

R efe re n ce s

G arb arin o, J ., B ra d sh aw , C .P ., & V orra si, J .A . (2 002). M it ig atin g t h e E ffe cts o f G un V io le n ce o n C hild re n

an d Y o uth .  T he F ut ure o f C hildr en , 1 2 (2 ), 7 3-8 7. R etr ie ve d

fr o m http s:/ / w ww.p rin ce to n.e d u/fu tu re o fc h ild re n /p u b lic a tio ns/d ocs/1 2_0 2_0 5.p d f .

F in ke lh or, D ., e t a l. (2 009). C hild re n’s E xp o su re t o V io le n ce : A C om pre h en siv e N atio nal S u rv e y. Juv en ile

J us tic e B ulle tin , O cto b er 2 009. R etr ie ve d f r o m http s:/ / w ww.n cjr s .g o v/p d f .

Te p lin , L ., e t a l. (2 005). C rim e V ic tim iz a tio n i n A dult s W it h S eve re M en ta l I lln ess : C om paris o n W it h t h e

N atio nal C rim e V ic tim iz a tio n S u rv e y.  A rc h iv es o f G en era l P sy ch ia tr y , 6 2 , 9 11-9 21.

T o c o m men t o n t h is a rtic le , e -m ail v o ic e @ cw la .o rg .

A BO UT C W LA 6/10/22, 5:05 PM The Impact of Gun Violence on Children, Families, & Communities – CWLA

https://www.cwla.org/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-families-communities/ 7/7

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