Youth-Led Recommendations to Address Community Violence in Washington, DC – Child Trends

Report on Community-Based Strategies for Youth Development and Violence Reduction

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This report outlines key strategies for enhancing youth development and reducing community violence, with a significant focus on their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis highlights the critical role of parental engagement in achieving targets related to education, health, and peaceful societies.

The Role of Parental Engagement in Achieving SDGs

Evidence indicates a direct correlation between parental involvement and positive youth outcomes, which are foundational to several SDGs.

Contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education

• Enhanced parental involvement is consistently linked to improved academic success for youth, directly supporting the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

Contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Active parental engagement fosters improved social skills and emotional well-being in young people.
• Strengthening parental support systems supports healthy youth development and reduces risk factors for violence, contributing to targets for mental health and well-being.

Strategic Recommendations for Community Action

To leverage the benefits of parental engagement, the following community-level interventions are recommended to advance progress toward SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

1. Implement age-specific parenting workshops at community centers, focusing on topics such as adolescent decision-making and child development.
2. Establish parent support groups to facilitate the sharing of guidance and the creation of robust, supportive networks.

Vision for a Sustainable and Peaceful Community (SDG 11 & SDG 16)

The project’s long-term vision is the cultivation of a community free from violence, characterized by strong social cohesion and safety.

Core Elements of a Violence-Free Community

• Enhanced community bonding, networking, and peace.
• Increased parental involvement in children’s lives, leading to improved youth life expectancy and outcomes.
• Safe public spaces where youth can socialize and play without fear.
• Positive and protective engagement between law enforcement and community members.

Desired Project Outcomes

• Increased socialization and mutual understanding among residents through community events, traditions, and public art such as murals.
• More peaceful and constructive interactions with police services.
• Empowerment of youth to express themselves through art and creativity as an alternative to violence.

Conclusion: Learnings and Future Directions

The community engagement process revealed a strong collective desire for positive change and improvement. Through collaborative analysis, key areas for intervention were identified and actionable recommendations were developed to address the root causes of community violence. The project underscores the community’s commitment to problem-solving and building a future where youth can thrive in a safe and supportive environment, in direct support of global sustainable development objectives.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues and recommendations that connect directly to four Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article emphasizes the importance of youth well-being, mentioning that strengthening parental engagement can “support healthy youth” and improve “social skills and emotional well-being.” The overarching goal of reducing violence is also a public health issue, aiming to prevent injury and trauma.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The text explicitly links parent involvement to “improved youth academic success.” Furthermore, it proposes educational interventions like “age-specific parenting workshops” to equip parents with knowledge on topics such as “child development,” which contributes to lifelong learning opportunities and skill development for creating a supportive home environment.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article envisions a community with improved social cohesion through “community bonding, networking,” and “community events.” A key desire is the creation of safe public spaces, as expressed in the vision of “spaces where kids can go outside without fear of getting stuck in a crossfire,” which is central to making communities safe and inclusive.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The central theme is the creation of a “community without violence” by reducing “risk factors for violence.” The article also addresses the relationship between the community and institutions, calling for police to be “engaging and protecting the community instead of using fear” and for “more peaceful interactions with the police.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Explanation: The article’s focus on improving “social skills and emotional well-being” for youth directly aligns with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being.
2. Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles… and promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence.
   • Explanation: The recommendation to provide “parenting workshops” is a form of education aimed at fostering skills that support healthy child development and, as the article states, “reduce risk factors for violence,” thereby promoting a culture of peace.
3. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
   • Explanation: The vision of a community where there are “spaces where kids can go outside without fear” directly reflects the ambition of this target to ensure safe and inclusive public spaces for all.
4. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Explanation: This is the core theme of the article. The entire text is framed around finding “recommendations to address community violence” and achieving a “future without violence.” The desire for “young people growing up past age 18” explicitly connects to reducing death rates from violence.
5. Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
   • Explanation: The article’s focus on youth safety and the benefits of parental involvement in children’s lives is directly aimed at preventing violence and risk factors affecting children.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress:

• Reduction in violence and mortality rates: The goal of a “community without violence” and having “young people growing up past age 18” implies measuring crime statistics, homicide rates, and youth mortality rates. This aligns with Indicator 16.1.1 (Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population) and 16.1.2 (Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population).
• Improved academic outcomes: The statement that parent involvement leads to “improved youth academic success” suggests that metrics like school graduation rates, test scores, and attendance could be used as indicators of progress.
• Perception of public safety: The vision of “kids can go outside without fear” implies that progress could be measured by community surveys on the perception of safety in public spaces. This relates to Indicator 11.7.2, which measures the proportion of the population who are victims of harassment.
• Community engagement and social cohesion: The desire for “more socializing and getting to know one another through community events” suggests that participation rates in these events and surveys on community trust and belonging could serve as indicators.
• Public trust in institutions: The call for “more peaceful interactions with the police” and for them to be “engaging and protecting the community” implies that progress could be tracked through indicators measuring public confidence and trust in law enforcement.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: childtrends.org