Secondary Level of Prevention and Family Violence Prevention

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Interesting topic!

One approach to help you with an assignment like this one is to address each section from various sources, which you can then draw on for your final copy. This is the approach this response takes. I also included examples to consider.

Let's take a closer look.

RESPONSE:

a. Explain the level of prevention. How might this specific level of prevention be addressed in a community experiencing increasing levels of family violence?

In violence prevention, secondary prevention stops further harm and violence. Secondary prevention activities happen immediately after the violent event occurs and include steps that decrease the likelihood that the event will recur. Some examples of secondary prevention activities are shelter services for victims of domestic violence, as well as services provided by crisis responders, police and fire department officials, ambulance drivers, city/county social workers, and child protective services. This form of prevention might also include short-term help for the victim to find new living quarters, sources of income, ways of caring for the children as the family copes with domestic violence, and more. These activities may be considered intervention as well. Having an abused partner become safe by going to a shelter after a violent event is an example of secondary prevention (What Is Domestic Violence Prevention? 2005/2006: http://www.transformcommunities.org/cdvp/CDVP_3d.html).

However, because it is important to deal with all levels integratively and hilsitically in violence prevention, let's look at all three levels: primary, secondary and tertiary.

c. Explain why a comprehensive health program should address all three levels of prevention.

The public health field uses a model, (commonly known as the "public health model"), that describes primary, secondary and tertiary prevention efforts or interventions (Why Is Primary Prevention A "Systemic" Process?, 2005/2006: http://www.transformcommunities.org/cdvp/CDVP_3e.html) Combined, the three levels help the individual, the people and the community to attain better health. The primary level focuses mostly on education e.g., health promotion, which is aimed at preventing the illness or disease. Examples of primary promotion are immunization shots, teaching clients about nutrition and weight management and teaching families and communities about risk factors and protective factors associated with family violence.

Family violence is the abuse of power within relationships of family, trust or dependency that endangers the survival, security or well-being of another person. It can include many forms of abuse including spouse abuse, senior abuse and neglect, child abuse and neglect, child sexual abuse, parent abuse, and witnessing abuse of others in the family. Family violence may include some or all of the following behaviors: physical abuse, psychological abuse, criminal harassment/stalking, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and spiritual abuse. (http://www.child.gov.ab.ca/home/documents/familyviolence/doc_opfvb_CIF_Module3.pdf)

Primary prevention seeks to prevent even the initial perpetration or victimization - this means any first or new acts of violence, any first or new episodes of violence, any first or new victims of violence, or any first or new perpetrators of violence. Forms of primary prevention of domestic violence include public education leading to changes in social norms, policy changes, public service announcements, other media-based means of information dissemination, pre-marital counseling, counseling and support groups for young parents, and more. (Why Is Primary Prevention A "Systemic" Process?) APA: Why Is Primary Prevention A "Systemic" Process? (2005/2006). Retrieved November 20, 2008, from http://www.transformcommunities.org/cdvp/CDVP_3e.html

Primary Prevention is a public health term, and a new way of thinking about the prevention of family violence. It is comprehensive, community-driven, and community specific. It builds long-term solutions and focuses on preventing violence before it occurs. (http://www.tcfv.org/prevention/providing-information-and-resources-about-the-prevention-of-domestic-violence-and-dating-abuse/primary-prevention/). This model proposes that early or primary prevention costs society far less than the secondary and tertiary interventions that are necessary when primary prevention is not widespread or powerful enough to stop the violence before it occurs. ...