The Challenge - Brain research shows that exposure to violence seriously impairs brain development in infants and very young children, and frequently leads to harmful and costly behaviors including youth violence. The California Attorney General, California Children and Families Commission and the California Department of Health and Human Services joined forces with i.e. communications to enlist a diverse group of stakeholders and leaders in a series of regional meetings designed to develop policy recommendations for a more effective response to children's exposure to violence.

Strategies & Advocacy to Break the Cycle of Violence - i.e. created a communications plan to publicize the "Safe from the Start" Initiative featuring:

• A Message: "One out of four children is exposed to violence."
• Local Events, including statewide and regional events that offered both information and tools to help policymakers and local leaders improve the health and well-being of children exposed to violence.
• Policy Forums, including 10 "Safe from the Start" regional forums that helped build collaboration among California's various regions, and provided participants with the best available research on children's exposure to violence and promising strategies in prevention and intervention. i.e. compiled policy recommendations from these regional forums into a report distributed to elected officials.
• Electronic networking, including a "Safe from the Start" website through which local law enforcement, elected officials and children's advocates could communicate, cooperate and collaborate.

Results

• Law enforcement and social services now work closely together in responding to domestic violence calls.
• More children receive victim services than before the "Safe from the Start" Initiative.
• The new Promising Strategies and Program Resource Guide offers continuing help to law enforcement and social service personnel involved with children exposed to violence.