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Violence Prevention Program

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Violence Prevention Program

The public health approach to violence prevention acknowledges that violent behavior arises from contextual, biological, environmental, systemic and social stressors.

Violent behavior is not a matter which can be solved via the criminal justice system alone. Violence in its many forms can affect the health of victims, perpetrators, and the communities in which both live. The different forms of violence are interconnected and often share root causes.

The current focus of the program is to:

  • Involve members of impacted communities in all aspects of development, implementation, and evaluation of prevention strategies
  • Reduce risk factors such as violent problem solving, exposure to violence, acceptance of systemic poverty, and perpetuation of racial discrimination
  • Increase protective factors such as safe spaces, equity, and social cohesion
  • Change social norms to discourage violence, encourage healthy masculinity, and allow safe expressions of non-binary genders
  • Mobilize communities to specifically hold systems accountable

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “All people want to be healthy, safe, and connected to other people. We all want to have access to life opportunities, including education and employment, to become valued members of communities and society, and to live our lives free from violence.”

Funding for Violence Prevention was allocated to the NMDOH during the 2022 session of the NM legislature. This means that the program began developing personnel and plans along with executing contractual agreements for approaching violence prevention beginning July 1, 2023.

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