Getting Results

“There is nothing so practical
as a good theory”

— Kurt Lewin

The value of the “Violence Integrative Prevention and Restoration (PAR) Model” lies in its ability to produce tangible, measurable results. The results are fairly obvious: a reduction and, ultimately, elimination of violence — interpersonal to international. That translates into improved health, reduced costs (taking a chunk, for example, out of the more than US $1.2 trillion Americans pay for violence each year), greater personal and public safety, and overall improved quality of life.

Seven Key Areas

The PAR Model can be applied in seven key areas:

1. International Relations — Heads of government, policy makers, diplomats, intelligence agencies, military personnel, and international organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, SEATO, etc.
2. Conflict Risk Areas ( such as those we've seen in Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Columbia, Kenya, Indonesia, and Sudan) — Government ministries, police forces, military organizations, relief agencies, and other stakeholders.
3. Peacekeeping — UN Peacekeeping forces, relief organizations, and military and criminal/justice agencies within recipient countries.
4. Prisons — Prison staff, incarcerated individuals, community corrections personnel, parole officers, families related to those incarcerated, and community outreach groups.
5. Schools — Administrators, students, teachers, parents, support groups such as PTAs, school boards, school security personnel, and school volunteers.
6. Public Information — Print, television, radio, web, outdoor, and internal programs within schools, corporations, advocacy groups, and others.
7. Family and Community Health — Local public health agencies, healthcare providers, parenting educators and support groups, mental health professionals, parents, children, and social service agencies.

Delivery

There are myriad ways to put the PAR Model into action. These include conferences and symposia; university curricula; public and private school curricula; professional and public trainings; e-learning programs for professionals and consumers; web -based resource centers; documentary film production; certification programs for trainers, educators, consultants, and policy professionals; research in partnership with groups such as the World Health Organization; publication of books, and magazine, newspaper, and journal articles; scheduled audio and television programming; community resource center development; audio and video public service announcements; and more.

A Public Health Initiative

Like all public health initiatives, the implementing the PAR Model requires the participation of many stakeholders. It will take time for the Model to make its way into the mainstream. It will require a substantial effort as we shift from an fear-based punitive approach to an evidence-based public health approach. But the potential rewards are so great and so passionately desired that I'm very encouraged by the opportunities to bring the PAR Model to bear to benefit everyone.