Changing Minds Public Awareness Expansion and Enhancement Phase II

This program aims to broaden understanding of children’s exposure to violence by individuals, especially law enforcement professionals, and improve their response to children exposed to violence. The selected applicants will work collaboratively with OJJDP through cooperative agreements to continue to strengthen the ability of law enforcement, and associated youth justice professionals, to identify and respond to children and youth who have been exposed to violence and to enhance the extent and impact of the Changing Minds National Public Awareness Campaign on children exposed to violence.

Futures Without Violence (Futures) will continue a national effort to raise awareness about the prevalence of childhood exposure to violence and its traumatic consequences while motivating adults who regularly interact with children to take action and help. Futures, in collaboration with OJJDP and key OJP staff, crafted the following Changing Minds Campaign goals: (1) raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of children’s exposure to community or family violence and trauma and the strategies that can mitigate the negative consequences of unaddressed exposure (Knowledge); (2) help change the public’s perception of children labeled as “angry, bad, withdrawn, or acting out” to seeing them as kids who “have been hurt and need our help” (Attitude); (3) motivate adults who regularly interact with children in the school, community, and health settings to be caring, concerned, and supportive figures in the life of a child (Behavior); and (4) change practices, as needed, in schools, homes, and communities (Behavior). To achieve these goals, Futures will increase public engagement and awareness via the development of new campaign tools and materials, expand the Changing Minds Campaign learning communities, assess the impact of the Campaign, and disseminate Campaign best practices and lessons learned on innovative social norm change strategies and messages.

CA/NCF