More than 2,500 children and young adults are treated or hospitalized annually for violence-related injuries. Since youth violence is a significant health problem throughout Milwaukee, the Medical College of Wisconsin is working to decrease rates of violence through a public health approach and its Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.
The initiative has three major priorities for its first five years:
Implement violence prevention programs for youth ages 0-11.
Develop leadership capacity to prevent violence among youth ages 12-17.
Build and strengthen community capacity & resources to prevent youth violence.
MCW & the VPI team are also getting help from organizations like the Holton Youth and Family Center Collaborative and the United Neighborhood Centers of Milwaukee Violence Prevention Initiative.
I met some of the wonderful individuals and team players behind VPI. Click the podcast below to hear from Case Manager of the Holton Youth and Family Center Collaborative, Damien Smith, and how his team is working hard to make sure Milwaukee’s youth stay positive, healthy and strong.
*The VPI is funded by an award from the Healthier Wisconsin Partnership Program.
