In this unit on violence, we cover a broad array of topics, including changes in patterns in violence behaviors, trends over time, and differences by gender. We also include a variety of topics that can be explored through class assignments (see section on Case Studies and Class Assignments).

• Explore the short and longer term effects of exposure to domestic violence and child abuse on adolescents’ own patterns of violence and other risk behaviors, for example, early sexual behavior among girls who have been sexually abused as children.
• Discuss the relationship between neighborhood violence and adolescent violence.
• Describe risk factors pertaining to homicide, including being a victim and/or offender.
• Discuss how and in what ways media influences violent behavior among children and adolescents.
• Explore the issue of bullying and how it relates to gender, developmental stage, SES, race, etc. Review promising prevention programs.
• Explore the phenomenon of gangs and review best practices for gang prevention programs.
• Discuss how prevention programs should be tailored to each developmental stage, from middle childhood through late adolescence.
• Discuss victimization issues related to physical and cognitive development, gender, or sexuality. For example, young people who are different are often bullied (e.g., LGBT youth, developmentally delayed youth, teens who develop either more quickly or slowly than their peers).
• Discuss sexual assault and its relationship to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other types of negative outcomes.
• Discuss the extent to which gender plays a role in violence (e.g., as offender, as victim) and whether interventions should differ by gender.
• Discuss the role of schools in violence prevention and what policies and programs should be in place for schools to effectively prevent violence and intervene during crisis situations.
• Discuss the roles of communities in addressing youth violence and future directions for prevention efforts.
• Explore policy approaches to violence prevention (such as gun control) and the political, social and cultural factors that make them controversial. Discuss the impact of these policies on public health problems, costs, etc.

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This section is available in a Word file that can be downloaded in the Week 6 Resources section: http://policy.ucsf.edu/index.php/resources/article/resources_websites_wk6