OJJDP Blog Discusses Changing Minds about Children's Exposure to Violence

In a new blog post on the Office of Justice Programs website, OJJDP Acting Administrator Eileen M. Garry discusses the Changing Minds national public awareness campaign. The Department of Justice launched Changing Minds in partnership with Futures Without Violence to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of children's exposure to violence and trauma. The blog describes how Changing Minds is working to identify solutions to change public perceptions of children exposed to violence, encourage adults to be caring toward children and alert to signs of trouble, and help children heal. Acting Administrator Garry cites the most recent OJJDP-funded National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence, which found that more than 60 percent of youth in 2013 were exposed to violence, crime, or abuse.

Resources:

• Visit the campaign website ChangingMindsNow.org.
• Visit OJJDP's webpage on Trauma's Impact on Children Exposed to Violence.
• Access OJJDP's National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence publication series.