title: Healthy People 2020 Objectives for Violence Prevention and the Role of Nursing.
abstract: Violence, including child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, is a significant public health problem in the United States. A public health approach can help providers understand the health burden from violence, evaluate evidence for prevention strategies, and learn where to turn for information about planning and implementing prevention strategies for this preventable problem. For the past three decades, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published "Healthy People" objectives for the next decade. The Healthy People 2020 initiative includes 13 measurable objectives related to violence prevention, one of which was selected as a Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicator. Progress to achieve these objectives can save thousands of lives, reduce the suffering of victims and their families, and decrease financial cost to the law enforcement and healthcare systems. The role that nurses can and do play in violence prevention is critical and extends beyond just caring for victims to also include preventing violence before it happens. This article summarizes the violence prevention objectives in Healthy People 2020 and the resources for prevention available to support nurses and others as they move prevention efforts forward in communities to stop violence before it starts.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurvitz
mesh_terms: D040361:Healthy People Programs; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*
references.citation: J Nurs Adm. 2009 Jul-Aug;39(7-8):340-9
references.pmid: 19641432
references.citation: Inj Prev. 2014 Apr;20(2):108-14
references.pmid: 24048916
references.citation: Am J Prev Med. 2005 Feb;28(2 Suppl 1):11-39
references.pmid: 15698746
references.citation: BMJ. 2011 Jun 16;342:d3313
references.pmid: 21680632
references.citation: Sch Inq Nurs Pract. 1995 Summer;9(2):175-92
references.pmid: 7667569