Violence Toward and by Youth: Part I: Looking for the "Whys".

Violence is a public health crisis. It is especially concerning when it involves youth, whether they be victims, perpetrators, or observers. Part 1 of this two-part series categorizes the types of violence toward and by youth. There is a great deal of information on the prevalence of violence, mostly related to school shootings. However, the literature provides limited information on the antecedents of violent behaviors, and there is a dearth of information on "why" youth engage in violence. This is the unanswered question that drives Part 1 of this series. The beginning steps to understand "why" are viewed through the lens of a modified ABC Model (antecedent, behavior, consequence). Interventions for youth violence will be explored in Part 2.

Violence Toward and by Youth: Part II: Recommendations for Violence Interventions in the School Setting.

Violence toward and by youth is a public health crisis that can partially be addressed by the modified Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence (ABC) Model. Part I of this two-part series discussed the types of violence and the risk and protective factors that affect the prevalence of violence; it also addressed the emotions and thoughts that occur before the behaviors to help explain "why" youth engage in violence. Part II focuses on possible interventions by the school nurse and school staff. The modified ABC Model allows school nurses to focus on interventions that address the emotions and thoughts resulting from the antecedents as well as promote protective factors. Through their role in primary prevention, school nurses can also address risk factors for violence and participate in school and the wider community's efforts to mitigate violence.