The Way Forward: Mecklenburg County's Violence Prevention Plan

​The much-anticipated Violence Prevention Plan has just been released to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and the public. The innovative plan looks at community violence as a public health issue, with the focus being prevention. 

The report is called The Way Forward and Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) presented its findings and strategic plan to reduce violence in the community. “We are the first Office of Violence Prevention in the state of North Carolina,” said Tracie Campbell from the Office of Violence Prevention who presented the plan. The presentation was applauded by every County Commissioner with a promise of further support to begin the work. 

Development of the plan applied a public health framework, engaged hundreds of community members, and examined successful violence prevention practices. That approach produced five focus areas:  

1) community engagement and partnerships; 2) support for youth and families; 3) economic opportunity; 4) intergovernmental collaboration; 5) and safer and healthier neighborhoods. 

 “We know the impact of violence goes far beyond the path of a bullet, impacting our community’s social, emotional, mental and physical health,” said Kim Scott, assistant Public Health director for Mecklenburg County who oversees the Office of Violence Prevention. 

 In addressing the board, Campbell said, “Thank you for the vision and support, we are proud to have this first plan to address community violence, this will be a living, breathing document that will guide us, in the way forward.”