Children’s Wisconsin and community members across the state are dedicated to addressing violence and promoting safety. The increase in violence in our communities is a complex public health epidemic that requires multi-pronged, collaborative solutions. Violence impacts far beyond the immediate victims and greatly impacts a child’s growth and development.
 
Children’s Wisconsin has invested in trusted efforts to address violence holistically at home, in school and in the community. Our teams, consisting of clinicians, community health workers and child well-being professionals support children and families by working with community partners. They offer care, resources, education and support on topics such as positive parenting and family functioning, safe firearm storage, child abuse prevention and healthy ways to process trauma. They also offer connections to resources for housing, food, education and health care. Children’s offers free e-learning programs for schools across the state on bullying prevention and mental and emotional health.
 
When Children’s Wisconsin started Project Ujima, it was one of the first hospital-based violence and crisis intervention programs in the nation. Through case management, social and emotional support, youth development and mentoring, mental health and medical services, Project Ujima is supporting more kids and families than ever to stop the cycle of violence. Recently, an expectant mom with a child enrolled in the program after her mother was killed. Her entire family benefitted from Project Ujima’s services and were connected to therapy, childcare, food resources, car seat support and the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) which helps parents manage common child and family behaviors and emotions.
 
In addition to providing research support for Project Ujima, several Children’s Wisconsin providers are involved in violence prevention research, including understanding risk factors, long-term outcomes, follow-up care needs and more. These and other efforts are key to advancing solutions to address violence in our communities.