Highlighting Violence Prevention Efforts Implemented
Through Public Health Infrastructure Webinar Series
Session 2 - Highlighting Public Health Contributions to
Violence Prevention at the Local, State, and National Level
Speaker Bios
Introduction and Welcome
Dr. Jim Mercy
Acting Director, Division of Violence Prevention, NCIPC, CDC
JAMES A. MERCY is the Acting Director of the Division of Violence Prevention in the Office of Non-communicable Diseases, Injury and Environmental Health of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He received his PhD in sociology from Emory University in Atlanta in 1982. After his graduation, Dr. Mercy began working at CDC in a newly formed activity to examine violence as a public health problem. Over the past almost three decades he has helped to develop the public health approach to violence and has conducted and overseen numerous studies of the epidemiology of youth suicide, family violence, homicide, and firearm injuries. He also served as a co-editor of the World Report on Violence and Health prepared by the World Health Organization and served on the Editorial Board of the United Nation’s Secretary General’s Study of Violence Against Children. Most recently he’s been working on a global partnership with UNICEF, PEPFAR, WHO, and others to end sexual violence against girls.
Moderator
Dr. Renee M. Johnson
Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Public Health
Dr. Johnson completed master's and doctoral degrees in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Education at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. As a recipient of the Alonzo Smythe Yerby Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, she worked with Dr. David Hemenway at the Harvard School of Public Health on firearm injury prevention among children and youth. Her current research centers on the prevention and etiology of suicide, firearm injury, youth violence, and adolescent substance use. Dr. Johnson is a core faculty member with the CDC-funded Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center. She has received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study youth violence and substance abuse.
National Perspective
Rachel Davis, MSW
Managing Director- Prevention Institute
Title: Urban Networks to Increase Thriving Youth- A National Perspective on Preventing Youth Violence
Synopsis
This presentation will provide an overview of UNITY, a national initiative that builds support for effective, scalable, and sustainable efforts to prevent violence. The discussion will include making the case for a public health approach and integration into other public health priorities.
Biography
Rachel Davis, MSW -
For more than ten years, Rachel has overseen the development and implementation of Prevention Institute’s projects related to community health and reducing disparities, health care reform, violence prevention, and mental health. In addition, she develops community tools, provides consulting and training for various community and government organizations, and advances the conceptual work of the organization.
Rachel is Project Director for UNITY: Urban Networks to Increase Thriving Youth through Violence Prevention, an initiative funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The California Wellness Foundation to support large cities in implementing and sustaining effective preventive approaches to violence and building more momentum for such an approach nationally and in California. Previously, Rachel facilitated a statewide interagency violence prevention partnership in California's state government, evaluates community-wide violence prevention efforts; co-taught a violence prevention graduate course in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and contributed to the Partnerships for Preventing Violence satellite training series through research, script development, facilitator training, and project management. She has also facilitated strategic planning processes resulting in Oxnard, CA’s Strategic Action Framework for Empowered, Thriving Youth (SAFETY) BluePrint, the Alameda County Violence Prevention Blueprint and workplan, Cultivating Peace in Salinas, CA, and San Mateo County’s Primary Prevention Framework for Behavioral Health. Rachel speaks and consults around the country on preventing violence affecting youth, primary prevention and violence against women, child abuse prevention, community health and health equity, and the economics of prevention.
Ms. Davis received her M.S.W. from the U.C. Berkeley School of Social Welfare with a specialization in direct service with children and families. She has also worked as a school social worker in San Francisco Unified School District and worked in a residential treatment facility with SED children.
As a school social worker and counselor in the San Francisco Unified School District, Ms. Davis was responsible for the development and implementation of prevention and intervention programs for health, mental health, and violence. Formerly, she was a trainer and curriculum developer for Oracle Corporation. She received her masters in social welfare from UC Berkeley and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
State Perspective
Shannon Breitzman, MA
Director- Injury, Suicide, and Violence Prevention Unit
Jarrod Hindman, MS
Program Manager-Injury, Suicide and Violence Prevention Unit
Title: Bold Steps toward Child and Adolescent Health: A Violence Prevention Plan for Colorado- A State Level Public Health Approach
Synopsis
Colorado will present a state public health approach to preventing violence which includes application of the essential public health services through assessment, planning, collaborative partnerships and the integration of prevention efforts. Participants will learn about Colorado’s approach which emphasizes shared risk and protective factors, and is both evidence-based and community-driven.
Biography
Shannon Breitzman, MA
Shannon Breitzman is the director of the Injury, Suicide, and Violence Prevention Unit at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In this role she provides oversight of state and federally funded programs for the prevention of death and disability in Colorado due to unintentional and intentional injuries, which includes harm as a result of sexual assault, violence, suicide, motor vehicle crashes, and falls. The programs aim to reduce injury through health policy, legislation, public awareness and education, training, assessments, and intervention. Ms. Breitzman led the development of a cultural competency strategic plan for the department’s Prevention Services Division and is currently leading implementation of this plan. Ms. Breitzman is also leading integration efforts across the Prevention Services Division as part of the division’s improvement plan. Ms. Breitzman has a Masters degree in Child and Family Therapy and has worked with children and families for seventeen years, including ten years in public health
Jarrod Hindman, MS
Jarrod Hindman, MS is the Program Manager of the Office of Suicide Prevention in the Injury, Suicide and Violence Prevention Unit at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Mr. Hindman manages the legislatively mandated Office of Suicide Prevention, which is responsible for serving as the lead entity for suicide prevention and intervention efforts, collaborating with Colorado communities to reduce the number of suicide deaths and attempts statewide. Activities of the Office of Suicide Prevention include increasing public awareness regarding suicide and suicide prevention, providing resource information for suicide prevention, and disseminating and monitoring community grants for suicide prevention.
North Carolina Division of Public Health
Ruth Petersen, MD, MPH- Section Chief- Chronic Disease and Injury Section
Catherine Joyner, MSW- Executive Director - Child Maltreatment Prevention Leadership Team
Alan J. Dellapenna, Jr. R.S., MPH- Branch Head- Injury and Violence Prevention Branch
Title: A Collaborative Approach to Child Maltreatment Prevention
Synopsis
This presentation will provide an overview of North Carolina’s approach to develop state-level leadership within the Division of Public Health for the primary prevention of child maltreatment. It will provide an example of collaboration between Maternal and Child Health and Injury Violence Prevention as well as an example of collaboration with other public and private stakeholders.
Biography
Ruth Petersen, MD, MPH
Ruth received her MD and MPH from UNC. After training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Rochester NY, she was the Medical Director at a Health Department in New York State. She returned to NC to complete the UNC Preventive Medicine Residency and a post-doctoral fellowship in health services research.
Ruth has worked in public health in a variety of settings, including as:
- Epidemiologist consultant for CDC,
- Faculty at UNC in both the School of Public Health and in the Ob/Gyn Department at the School of Medicine,
- Medical provider at Alamance County Health Department,
- Director of Women’s Preventive Health Research at Center for Women’s Health Research at UNC,
- Epidemiology consultant to IBM Global Well-being, and
- Senior Public Health Consultant to NC Division of Public Health as liaison to NC Institute of Medicine for NC Prevention Task Force.
Currently, Ruth works at NC Division of Public Health as the Section Chief for Chronic Disease and Injury Section.
Catherine Joyner, MSW
Catherine Joyner is the Executive Director of the Child Maltreatment Leadership Team located in the Women’s and Children’s Health Section of the North Carolina Division of Public Health. In this role, she facilitates public efforts for the integration of child maltreatment prevention into existing public programming and works in collaboration with Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina to oversee implementation of recommendations from the NC Institute of Medicine Task Force on Child Maltreatment Prevention.
Prior to join the NC Division of Public Health, Catherine spent five years in social work education as an assistant professor of social work teaching child welfare and practice courses and directing field education. She also served as the Assistant Director and co-investigator for the WSSU Grandparenting Program and was the faculty evaluator for the Forsyth County Juvenile Drug Treatment Court. Over the last 20 years she has provided public and private child welfare services as direct practice social worker, clinician, supervisor, and administrator. She also worked as a state-level consultant providing training and technical assistance to community based practitioners. Catherine earned her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University.
Alan J. Dellapenna, Jr. R.S., MPH
Alan Dellapenna joined North Carolina Division of Public Health in October 2010 as Branch Head of the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch (IVPB).
Alan came to North Carolina following a 27 year career as a Commissioned Officer of the US Public Health Service, retiring at the rank of Captain. Alan spent his PHS career assigned to the Indian Health Service, serving assignments in Michigan, South Dakota, Arizona, and Maryland.
He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Health from Ferris State University and a Master’s of Public Health degree from The University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill. He is also a graduate of the Indian Health Service, Injury Prevention Specialist Fellowship.
Alan has worked in injury prevention since 1984 at the local, regional, and national level.
Local Perspective
Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support
Gretchen Musicant, MPH- Commissioner- Minneapolis Department of Health
Bass Zanjani- Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator- City of Minneapolis
Title: A Public Health Approach to Youth Violence Prevention - The Minneapolis Experience
Synopsis
The City of Minneapolis responded to high rate of youth violence by launching a process to develop a public health approach to preventing youth violence – the Blueprint for Action. Implementation of the plan has lowered youth violence and leveraged community efforts and resources.
Biography
Gretchen Musicant, MPH
Gretchen Musicant is the Minneapolis Health Commissioner where she oversees the Minneapolis Department of Health and Family Support whose mission is “to promote health equity in Minneapolis and meet the unique needs of our urban population by providing leadership and fostering partnerships”. Musicant previously served the City of Minneapolis as the Director for Public Health Initiatives.
Prior to working for the City, Musicant was Vice President of Community Health for the Minnesota Hospital Association and a Government Affairs Specialist for the Minnesota Nurses Association.
She has both a BS in Nursing and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She has substantial public policy experience as a state level lobbyist and as a fellow with the Humphrey Institute. She has chaired several state-wide and regional efforts including: the Universal Coverage Committee of the Minnesota Health Care Commission, The Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency Board, The Social Conditions and Health Action Team of the Minnesota Department of Health, the Healthier Minnesota Community Clinic Fund, and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health Alumni Society. She is the 2007 recipient of the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Public Health Achievement Award given by the Minnesota Public Health Association and has been designated one of the 100 Distinguished Nursing Alumni of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.
Bass Zanjani
Bass Zanjani works as the youth violence prevention coordinator for the City of Minneapolis and manages the Mayor's Blueprint for Action initiative. In this capacity, Bass serves as a staff lead for the city's efforts to reduce youth violence by addressing it as a public health issue.
In 2009 the Blueprint was recognized by the National League of Cities in its The State of City Leadership Report as one of the nation’s three most innovative city models for preventing youth violence.
Previous to this, he served as Chief of Staff at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, a federally qualified health center which provides quality health care to underserved communities in North Minneapolis.
Mr. Zanjani has also served a policy aide to two United States Senators, Dianne Feinstein and the late Paul Wellstone. He also worked as a policy advisor for the Baha’i International Community, an international non-governmental organization on human rights issues in Haifa, Israel.
Mr. Zanjani has an undergraduate degree in International Relations from the University of Minnesota and is currently a Hubert H. Humphrey Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota.
Boston Public Health Commission
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, M.Ed -Executive Director
Catherine Fine, MPH -Director- Division of Violence Prevention
Title: Violence Prevention: Role of Public Health in Boston
Synopsis
The Boston Public Health Commission is committed to addressing health equity at every level of its organization.The Boston Public Health Commission oversees several programs that work with both victims and perpetrators of violence, and also provides secondary prevention programming to individuals at high risk of violence. However, the Commission’s primary focus with respect to violence prevention is on primary prevention strategies such community organizing and public policy.
Biography
Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, M.Ed
As the City’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Ferrer manages a $154 million budget and oversees 1,200 employees. In addition to operating public health programs, the Commission provides oversight of Boston Emergency Medical Services, several substance abuse treatment facilities, and the second largest homeless services program in New England. A high school principal in the Boston Public Schools from 2004 to 2007, Dr. Ferrer returned to the Commission in 2007 after having previously served as the Deputy Director for six years. During that time she spearheaded a broad-based and comprehensive campaign to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.
Dr. Ferrer has more than 25 years of experience working in healthcare. Prior to joining the Boston Public Health Commission, she spent five years at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health -- first as Director of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention and later as Director of the Division of Maternal and Child Health.
In 1988, Dr. Ferrer received a master’s degree in public health from Boston University, and was awarded a Pew Foundation doctoral fellowship to attend Brandeis University. She wrote her doctoral thesis on hospital length-of-stay determinants for AIDS patients and, in 1994, received her doctorate from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare. Dr. Ferrer also holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Catherine Fine, MPH
Catherine Fine is a public health practitioner with over 10 years of experience in the field of public health violence prevention. Based on her work in Baltimore and Boston, her areas of expertise include designing and implementing community case management models for high risk offendersas well asreplicating successful community outreach and treatment models such as Chicago CeaseFire and Multisystemic Family Therapy. The current focus of her work as the Division of Violence Prevention Director for the Boston Public Health Commission is to design and implement community organizing strategies to prevent and reduce violence in Boston’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. Her Division is also the lead on a recently funded project from the Department of Justice to design a city-wide comprehensive plan to reduce children’s exposure to violence. Ms Fine is a graduate of the University of Rochester, and she holds a master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.