INDIANAPOLIS – Youth violence has been called an epidemic, comparable to the impact of war, more devastating than polio, AIDS, or motor vehicle crashes. Nationwide, youth under 18 accounted for about 15 percent of violent crime arrests in 2001 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In Indiana, homicide is the second leading cause of death for youth ages 15 to 24 and suicide is the third leading cause of death for this age group.

To address the problem of youth violence in Indiana, the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence in conjunction with Clarian Health will hold a conference on September 17 at the Marott, 2625 N. Meridian from 9:00 am – 3:15 pm. The conference is entitled “Youth Violence: Community-Wide Prevention and Intervention Strategies.”

“Violence against youth is a public health problem,” said Marilyn Bull, MD, medical director of the Indiana Partnership to Prevent Firearm Violence. “It is impossible to put a price tag on youth violence that accounts for all the damage done to individuals, families and communities. There is no way to measure the emotional pain, the lost opportunities, the stunted growth.”

The meeting will feature two nationally recognized experts on the topic of youth violence. Marleen Wong, director of Crisis Counseling and Intervention for the Los Angeles Unified School District and director of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at UCLA/Duke Universities will talk about the effects of violence on children and communities. Robert Woodson, Sr, founder and president of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise will talk about how communities are reviving our streets and neighborhoods.

Wong and Woodson have published numerous articles related to violence and its impact on children. Wong served as a consultant to the US Department of Education in assisting schools after school shootings, disasters and acts of terrorism. Woodson received the prestigious John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship award, often referred to as the “genius” award.

Thomas Simon, PhD, Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will discuss best practices for youth violence prevention programs and what elements funders look for in prevention programs. Additionally, Judge James W. Payne, Marion Superior Court, Juvenile Division will discuss his experiences with children in the court system.

“From the public health perspective, youth violence is not an inevitable fact of life but a social problem that can be prevented, using the same rational approach that had such great effect on other public health challenges such as drunk driving, use of seat belts and smoking,” said Bull.

The Partnership brings together more than 40 departments and programs at Indiana University Medical Center and Riley Hospital, professional medical associations, individuals, faith communities, and civic and government organizations from around the state. The Partnership takes aim at one main target; to reduce and ultimately eliminate gun deaths and injuries.