Youth violence is a significant public health issue that negatively affects individuals, families, and communities 1,18. Accord-ing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth violence represents a wide range of behaviors 19. While some behaviors can cause more emotional harm than physical harm (e.g., bullying, slapping), others can result in serious injury or death (e.g., assault with a deadly weapon, robbery). Estimates of combined direct and indirect costs associated with youth violence in the United States are more than $158 billion every year.

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