Local experts to discuss trends in and practices for addressing youth violence as part of Schubert Center Conversation Series

Three Northeast Ohio youth-violence specialists will discuss trends and recent practices in addressing youth violence and victimization on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 11:30 a.m. at the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organization, Room 115.

The event is free to the public. Register online or call 216.368.0540.

The discussion is part of the 2013-2014 Schubert Center for Child Studies Conversation Series that brings together Case Western Reserve faculty, students and staff, visiting researchers, practice and policy experts and community members whose work impacts children, young people and families.

The panel discussion, which will deal with the scope and impact of violence, as well as evidence-based prevention and intervention efforts, features the following speakers:

  • James Adams, CEO of the Geauga Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, who will discuss lessons learned from responding to and recovering from the 2012 Chardon school shooting that resulted in the death of three students.
  • Jean Frank, manager of community initiatives at CWRU’s Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods, will explain trends from the Cuyahoga County Youth Risk Behaviors Survey and potential opportunities for violence prevention and intervention efforts.
  • Jeff Kretschmar, research assistant professor at CWRU’s Begun Center for Violence Prevention and Research Education at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, will talk about the impact child and youth exposure to violence has, and evidence-based treatment interventions for youth using data collected as part of Ohio’s Behavioral Health and Juvenile Justice Initiative.

“With school shootings in the headlines, and stories of children dealing with trauma and violence in their homes and neighborhoods, our communities want to better understand what we can do individually and together,” says Gabriella Celeste, Schubert Center Director of Policy.  “These local experts will also help us explore opportunities for prevention, recovery and healing.”

The Schubert Center will also release a brief, Violence in Childhood: Understanding Prevalence, Risk and Prevention Strategies, which provides an overview of recent U.S. violence data, describes some of the potential consequences of youth experiencing or witnessing violence and describes some of the policy and practice initiatives focused on youth violence. 

For information, contact Celeste at gabriella.celeste@case.edu or 216.368.5314; Sarah Robinson, assistant director of the Schubert Center, at sarah.robinson@case.edu or 216.368.0540; or visit schubertcenter.case.edu.