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This project was funded by a grant from the Marian Chace FoundationThis pilot research evaluated the use of a 12-week dance/movement therapy-based violence prevention program with 54 multicultural elementary school children, and found that it was effective in reducing aggressive behaviors. The program used a dance/movement therapy group process that focused on socialization and engagement of children in creative, problem solving experiences. Pro-social behaviors and methods of self-control were introduced using movement, children's stories and discussion. Statistical results showed that teachers noticed a significant decrease of these behaviors in their students instigating fights, failing to calm down, frustration intolerance, and throwing articles. The children reported significant decreases of these behaviors both seen and experienced:''someone doing something wrong,'' and ''someone throwing something.'' Significant changes in the students' perceptions and feelings about experiencing or seeing aggression were noted in their ''not feeling happy'' when seeing such incidents, and their observations of handling themselves and responding in such situations showed a decrease of ''feeling happy,'' and a decrease in ''feeling scared.'' Classroom observations showed a significant decrease in the frequency of negative behaviors. However, there was not

In an effort to reduce injuries and prevent deaths from violence, interprofessional domestic violence fatality review teams (DVFRT) have developed across the United States and globally to study factors that contribute to intimate partner injury and deaths. Drawing upon knowledge from the disciplines of health, education, criminal justice, social services, and policy, these teams review and analyze domestic violence homicide cases to uncover basic knowledge about causes, factors that increase or decrease the risk for death and injury, and specific ways to prevent further injury and death. Through interprofessional collective recommendations and cooperative actions, these teams are developing promising practices and systems' changes that offer better services, learning, and interventions to reduce injury and death from domestic violence.

This research is an examination of the predictive validity of the Lethality Screen, a tool used in conjunction with the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP). This intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessment is an 11-item version of the Danger Assessment (DA) that was designed to be user-friendly for first responders and to maximize sensitivity. Participants ( N = 254) were recruited into the study at the scene of police-involved IPV incidents in one Southwestern state and subsequently participated in two structured telephone interviews approximately 7 months apart. These analyses provide evidence that the Lethality Screen has considerable sensitivity (92%-93%) and a high negative predictive value (93%-96%) for near lethal and severe violence. However, specificity was low (21%). The Lethality Screen also has good agreement with the DA and IPV survivors' perception of risk. The high sensitivity and low specificity should be considered carefully when determining whether the Lethality Screen is appropriate for particular areas of practice with IPV survivors and/or perpetrators.