Teen Violence

Violence intervention can happen on many different levels. This article focuses on violence intervention on the community level. Find out ways you can help prevent violence, or help with violence intervention programs by volunteering, donating, and advocating.

One of the most devastating issues for many families is that of violence, especially teen violence. When you are concerned about violence in the community, you can help in various ways with different violence intervention programs. Many communities have centers and programs that help those who are victims of violence. They can also provide you with an opportunity to help others and become involved. Here are some ways that you can be an active part of your community’s violence intervention efforts:

Volunteer

This is probably one of the best ways that you can help with your local violence intervention program. Go to the local center or shelter and find out what is available for you to do. Some of the more common ways that you can help at a center include:

• Answering phone calls after hours on behalf of the center, and being on hand to help contact law enforcement.
• Go through a training so that you can help respond to crisis situations.
• Help monitor meetings between affected parties, such as visitations between abusive parents and their children.
• Be on hand to provide comfort to victims of violence seeking help at the shelter.
• Help with filing and office work.
• Prepare mailings and answer phones.
• Run general errands.
• Organize supplies and donations.
• Help with fundraising.

Financial donations

In some cases, you may be unable to donate your time as a volunteer. In such cases, it is possible to donate financially to a violence intervention program. This way, you can help provide the needed funds that help your community’s efforts to break the cycle of violence. You can offer a one-time donation, as well as set up a regular monthly donation. It is also possible to make an endowment, or to donate stock to a charity. Remember that even when you donate stock, you get a tax benefit.

Even if you can’t give money, you can still give needed items. Many violence intervention programs need such items as toys for children, blankets, extra clothing, hygiene items, diapers, food and snacks. Find out from your local center what is needed, and then get some of the items on your next trip to the grocery store, or see what extra items you have in your home. In many cases, violence intervention programs accept old cell phones. These are programmed to call 9-1-1 or the shelter in case of emergency, and handed to those who do not feel safe.

Advocate

Finally, you can become an advocate for violence intervention and teenage violence prevention. You can do this by being informed about what is going on in your state and local government, and advocating for laws and funding for programs that help victims of violence. You can also work to raise awareness in your community.

In the end, violence intervention requires people who care and are willing to give of their time or other resources to help make a difference. Whether you go through violence intervention training and help out at a center, or whether you donate a cell phone, you can help make a difference in someone’s life when you do what you can for a violence intervention program.