Violence Prevention

Improving Health by Promoting Peace

The Chicago Department of Public Health established the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) in 1994 following the Surgeon General declaration of violence as a public health epidemic.

OVP works to prevent violence across the lifespan and reduce its negative impacts when it does occur. We understand violence to be anything that hurts or destroys any person, place or thing. We believe that exposure to violence in the home and/or community can change the life of a child forever.

We believe that exposure to violence in the home and/or community can change the life of a child forever "Children See..Children Do" .

We believe in primary prevention-preventing violence from happening in the first place by increasing awareness, identifying alternatives, responding early, surrounding children with protection, building on strengths, supporting parents and caregivers, strengthening community connections and working towards a culture of peace and justice.

The work of the Office of Violence Prevention focuses on:

Teaching - through violence prevention community education workshops and professional development training
Strengthening Systems - working with national, state, city and community groups to apply a violence prevention lens to the work they do
Reaching Community Partners - EVERYONE has a role to play in violence prevention!

Get Violence Prevention Training for Professionals

Powerful Ways to Prevent Bullying
Caring for Children in Dangerous Times
Child Abuse and Neglect
Children’s Exposure to Violence (CEV)
Choosing Non-Violence
Cyber-bullying
Early Childhood Bullying
Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
Mandated Reporting
Psychological First Aid
Shaken Baby
TAKE TEN- making Violence Prevention work in your life!
Welcoming Places/Wakanheza-making public spaces safe and child-friendly

Most Recent News (Violence Prevention)

Jul 13, 2012	CeaseFire Pilot Program Begins Today
Jun 26, 2012	City of Chicago Partners with the UIC School of Public Health and Chicago Project for Violence Prevention (CeaseFire) to Address Gang Violence
Apr 18, 2012	Preventing Childhood Exposure to Violence Is Focus of Special Week
Sep 14, 2011	Chicago Receives $1.75 Million for Violence Prevention Efforts
Sep 1, 2011	Chicago Safe Start Launches its Facebook Fan Page!