By: Jonathan Gross, Epidemiologist, Office of Youth Violence Prevention

Too often youth are seen as ‘the problem’ when many youth have already endured more hardships than some adults face in their lifetime.  As a city, our task is to help ensure youth’s wellbeing and their growth into successful adults.

Many youth are victims of violence directly or indirectly. Nationally, youth under 25 years of age have the highest rates of homicide and violent crime victimization. For example, poor birth outcomes related to smoking, drugs, lead poisoning, witnessing domestic violence, and child abuse can affect a child’s development. In turn, they increase the likelihood of a child becoming a delinquent or adult offender.

Above: Risk and protective factors for youth violence.                                                                           (CDC Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action)

During adolescence, peers begin to replace parents as major influences of youths’ behavior.  Peer pressure, combined with a lack of opportunities, can lead many youth in the wrong direction.  But, when youth are provided better alternatives, and their peers are positive influences, we actually see reductions in harmful behaviors.

A recent randomized control trial of 1,634 youth in Chicago found that the group assigned to a summer jobs program experienced a significant decrease in violence over 16 months. (Heller SB, Summer jobs reduce violence among disadvantaged youth, 5 Dec 2014).

Source: Justice Policy Institute, The Right Investment: Corrections Spending in Baltimore City.

Another popular misconception is that youth are not engaged or can’t engage in youth violence prevention.  Youth have always been engaged in and will always be!  In fact, youth are already participating at high levels and in the community.  Several took part in the National Forum and National Youth Violence Prevention Week activities, and 12 Baltimore residents, including eight youths, who are making a difference in their community or school by working to end violence were recognized last night by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake as Baltimorphosis Changemakers.

In conclusion, I’ll leave you with two quotes from participants in the Forum:

“Young people need a way to make money even before the age of 16. A lot of us have to help  to support our families.”- Youth focus group participant

“Juveniles need equal opportunities so they feel they can have other resources than being on the corner.  – Community focus group participant

For more information, please visit the Baltimore City Health Department Office of Youth Violence Prevention website. OYVP operates three programs in Baltimore City aimed at reducing youth violence: Dating Matters, Safe Streets, and Operation Safe Kids. It is the goal of the OYVP to combat the epidemic of violence among Baltimore’s youth and support traditional public safety strategies using a combination of public health and human service models to reduce violence.