Youth and gang violence affect communities—urban, suburban, and rural— across the entire United States.

Young people can be perpetrators, victims, or witnesses to violence.

Some violent acts, such as bullying, can cause as much emotional harm as physical harm.

credit: brighthorizonsfoundation.org

/>Other acts, such as assault, with or without weapons, can lead to serious injury or death.At the direction of President Obama, the Departments of Justice and Education launched the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention (Forum) to begin a national conversation concerning youth and gang violence, raise awareness, and elevate the issue to national significance.

The Forum was created to build the capacity of localities across the country to more effectively address youth violence through multi-disciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches, data-driven strategies, comprehensive planning, and sharing common challenges and promising strategies.

The Forum is an innovative model for federal and local collaboration that encourages its members to change the way they do business through increased communication and coordinated action.

The Forum convenes a diverse array of stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels.

Along with Justice and Education, participating federal agencies include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Labor, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Localities participating in the Forum include Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Salinas (CA), and San Jose (CA).

Other participants include local faith and community-based groups, youth and family services representatives, businesses, and philanthropies.

Additional information regarding the Forum is available at www.findyouthinfo.gov/youthviolence.

The FY 2012 OJJDP National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) Project is authorized by the Department of Justice Authorization Act, 2012, Pub.

L.

No.

112-55, 125 Stat.

552, 61 7.