Strategy for Prevention
Reducing violence and achieving a community rooted in compassion, respect and responsibility has the best chance for success with a prevention strategy that addresses norms. Norms, or community standards, influence and model behavior. Risk and resiliency factors impact the way individuals and communities interact. If violence is seen as typical and is reinforced by the media, family, community, or school, it will occur with greater frequency and lethality. On the other hand, in a community that respects youth, demonstrates consistently high levels of support and expectations, and models non-violence, more positive outcomes can be expected.

Violence, like many of the health and social problems that currently face cities across the nation, consists of a complex set of issues and thus requires a comprehensive solution. In recognition of the complexity of violence, the Core Group recommended that a multi-faceted approach and systemic change be greater priorities than the creation or expansion of new programs. Making use of a Prevention Institute tool called Evolution to Effective Prevention48 the Core Group specified their highest priorities as follows:

Evolution of Prevention in Salinas

To move from:		To:
The absence of an overall strategy		Creation of an overall strategy
Short-term fix it approaches		Long-term focus & outcomes
Programs aimed at only changing individuals		Efforts aimed at changing people, norms, & policies
Fragmented & independent activities & programs		Linked, collaborative initiatives & partnerships across disciplines

In the following section, the two key elements of strategy—the what of a comprehensive approach (The Spectrum of Prevention) and the who (Collaboration)—are described, along with the evaluation approach.
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