R. Brent Decker, MPH/MSW Cure Violence University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health 2017

In many cities, HOMICIDE is the LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH

HEALTH PROBLEM & SOLUTION Moralism Bad people SCIENCE HEALTH PROBLEM & SOLUTION

Health Approach Violence behaves like a contagious disease (epidemic) Treating violence like an epidemic gets results in communities

The Contagion of Violence

VIOLENCE AS A CONTAGION Population characteristics Clustering Epidemic waves Transmission

Violence Has Characteristics of Epidemics 1. Violence clusters - like a disease 2. Violence spreads - like a disease Cholera Violence Influenza Violence 3. Violence is transmitted - through exposure, modeling, social learning, and norms.

TRANSMISSION OF VIOLENCE Exposure to Violence Measles leads to measles, flu leads to flu; exposure diabetes or strokes does not lead to diabetes Violence Source: Mullins et al. 2004; Devries et al. 2011

Transmission across syndromes community family spousal child suicide

MEANS OF TRANSMISSION VIOLENCE TRANSMISSION Observing Witnessing Trauma

WE KNOW HOW TO STOP EPIDEMICS 1. Interrupting transmission Preventing future spread 3. Changing group norms

STOP EPIDEMICS by: 1. Interrupting transmission

Identify and interrupt conflict We train carefully selected members of the community — trusted insiders — to serve as violence interrupters and outreach workers. They anticipate where violence may occur and intervene before it erupts. We call them interrupters. Identify and interrupt conflict

Mapping High Risk Zones Through a combination of shooting data and street knowledge, we identify “hot spots” and focus on individuals at the highest risk of being involved in a shooting. Mapping High Risk Zones

Credible Messengers

STOP EPIDEMICS by: 1. Interrupting transmission 2. Preventing future transmission

qsw CHANGE BEHAVIOR of highest risk CeaseFire outreach workers and violence interrupters work with those who are at highest risk for shooting someone or being shot. Highest-risk individuals are those who meet for of these criteria: + 16-25 years old + Recently released from prison + Recent victim of a shooting + Major player in a street organization + Involved in high risk street activity (e.g. drug dealing, stick ups, gang banging) + History of violence or crimes against persons + Weapons carrier Workers help the high risk change their thinking about how to respond to conflict, so that shooting and killing another person is no longer a normal response to settle a feud. ______________ CHANGE BEHAVIOR of highest risk Photograph by Ed Kashi

CHANGE BEHAVIOR

STOP EPIDEMICS by: 1. Interrupting transmission 2. Preventing future transmission 3. Changing norms

CHANGE NORMS Photograph by Ed Kashi

CHANGE NORMS

CURE VIOLENCE NATIONAL ADAPTATION PARTNERS March 2015 SEATTLE TROY SYRACUSE MINNEAPOLIS ROCHESTER MILWAUKEE ALBANY BUFFALO MT VERNON NORTH CHICAGO YONKERS MAYWOOD CHICAGO NEW YORK CITY HEMPSTEAD SAN FRANCISCO ROCKFORD CICERO PHILADELPHIA CAMDEN RICHMOND BALTIMORE SPRINGFIELD WILMINGTON OAKLAND KANSAS CITY ST. LOUIS EAST ST. LOUIS DURHAM LOS ANGELES SAN ANTONIO NEW ORLEANS TALLAHASSEE MIAMI ADAPTATION PARTNERS Loiza, PR NEW ADAPTATION PARTNERS POTENTIAL PARTNERS POTENTIAL HEALTH APPROACH PARTNERS

CURE VIOLENCE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ISRAEL/ WEST BANK CANADA ENGLAND UNITED STATES SYRIA IRAQ EGYPT MEXICO JAMAICA GUATEMALA PUERTO RICO EL SALVADOR HONDURAS TRINIDAD COLOMBIA KENYA BRAZIL SOUTH AFRICA ADAPTATION PARTNERS EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS PAST PROGRAMS Violence Interruption and Reduction Training – Model 101

INDEPENDENT EVALUATIONS

-56% -20% arrows New York City Baltimore Killings Shootings 41% - 73% Chicago Shootings and Killings New York City Shootings Baltimore Killings -56% -20% 41% - 73%

Ciudad Juarez Independent community surveys looking at perceptions of security found areas where program is implemented experienced: Creation of safe spaces within the target area Add map of cities…. Increased perceptions of security Increased prosocial behaviors of youth Better family cohesion Less Conflicts Data from FICOSEC, September 2016

“Cure Violence…. the approach that will come to prominence “Cure Violence….the approach that will come to prominence.” - The Economist

For More Information Visit: www.cureviolence.org Thank you! Cure Violence @CureViolence brentd@uic.edu For More Information Visit: www.cureviolence.org