title: The SAFER Latinos project: Addressing a community ecology underlying Latino youth violence.
abstract: This paper describes the intervention model, early implementation experience, and challenges for the Seguridad, Apoyo, Familia, Educacion, y Recursos (SAFER) Latinos project. The SAFER Latinos project is an attempt to build the evidence for a multilevel participatory youth violence prevention model tailored to the specific circumstances of Central American immigrants. Specific circumstances targeted in this intervention are decreased family cohesion as a result of sequential immigration (i.e., parents arriving first and bringing their children years later or youth arriving without parents); multiple school barriers; community disorganization and low community efficacy; limited access to services; and a social context (including gang presence) that is linked to youth norms supporting violence. In its implementation, the initial intervention model was adapted to address barriers and challenges. These are described, along with lessons learned and the ongoing evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prevention and Community Health, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, 2175 K Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037, USA. medberg@gwu.edu
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edberg
authors.forename: Sean D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klevens
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leiva
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bazurto
authors.forename: Ivonne
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Alex Taylor
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: del Cid
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montero
authors.forename: Melba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D058992:Social Participation; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult