Mitigating Negative Consequences Of Community Violence Exposure: Perspectives From African American Youth

The burden of community violence on young African Americans includes disproportionate rates of physical and mental health consequences. To develop appropriate and sustainable interventions that mitigate the negative consequences after violence exposure, it is critical to incorporate the lived experiences and perspectives of African American youth. We conducted five focus groups that collectively included thirty-nine African American youth living in income-disadvantaged urban neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri, to examine their experiences and perceptions of community violence and identify priorities to reduce the negative consequences of community violence. Youth-identified priorities included increasing proactive responses from multiple community sectors; reducing racial discrimination; and creating safe environments, including access to mental health care and other supportive services. Incorporating these findings into current policy and cross-sector initiatives offers a promising opportunity to improve the health and well-being of African American youth exposed to community violence.