Campaign launches to prevent violence among American Indian communities

SAN FRANCISCO – An American Indian/Alaska Native public education campaign designed to prevent children’s exposure to violence officially launched this week at the Indian Nations Conference in Palm Springs, Calf.

The campaign, called “Strengthen Families, Prevent Violence” aims to:

Create awareness on the issue of children’s exposure to violence—and provide parents, grandparents and caregivers with tools to promote healthy parenting, and build strong families.

Promote the local adaptation of the campaign so that any tribe can change photos and motifs to reflect their unique culture and language.

Offer three posters and three billboards to effectively engage all community members in a positive way.

“We’re particularly pleased to introduce this campaign at the 2014 Indian Nations Conference, where so many people will be exposed to the information,” said Lonna Davis, Director of Children and Youth Program for Futures Without Violence.  “We hope these materials will remind many communities of the critical role that parents and caregivers play in the life of a young child.”

Recognizing the great culture and linguistic diversity among American Indians, the campaign can be customized or adapted by Nakota Designs to reflect specific communities or regions.

“Strengthen Families, Prevent Violence” shares examples of how adults can help children grow and thrive, and is developed as part of the Justice Department’s Defending Childhood Initiative—which funds six U.S. cities and two tribes to develop and implement strategic plans for community-based projects addressing children’s exposure to violence. Futures Without Violence, the lead technical assistance provider for the Defending Childhood Initiative worked with Native Streams Institute, the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation (Chippewa Cree tribe), and the Rosebud Sioux tribe on the development of the campaign.

To learn more about “Strengthen Families, Prevent Violence” visit: www.defendingchildhood.org or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Futures Without Violence
For more than 30 years, Futures Without Violence has led the way and set the pace for innovative educational programs, public action campaigns, policy development and leadership training designed to end violence against women, children and families around the world. Instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by the U.S. Congress in 1994, Futures Without Violence has established an International Conference Center that will engage today’s diverse national and global leaders, stand with survivors, and continue working to break the silence around gender-based violence.