Violence prevention: a community approach

Violence among children and adolescents has been elevated to the status of a public health problem in the United States today. Pediatric nurse practitioners are in a unique position to play a major role in violence prevention. This article describes the impact of violence on the preschool child including developmental and behavioral issues. Violence prevention must be all-inclusive as a routine component of anticipatory guidance for preschool children and their families. Ways to integrate violence prevention into a primary care approach are addressed. Community-based outreach programs that further buffer the impact of violence on these children are discussed.