Violent and abusive behavior exact a large toll on the physical and mental health of Washingtonians. Injuries and violence do not occur by chance. There are known risks for injuries and violence, and these risks can be reduced.

Healthy People 2000, the Health Objectives for the Nation, designates violence and abusive behaviors as a leading cause of injury-related death and long-term disability.

Recognizing that violence is a public health problem, the Washington State Public Health Association resolves to:

1. Promote cooperation and integration across public health, health care, mental health, drug treatment, criminal justice, social service, education, and other relevant sectors essential to developing effective prevention and intervention strategies in areas of violence and abusive behavior.
   
2. Support and encourage the collection of data on violence while improving the availability and quality of data on morbidity and disability associated with violence.
   
3. Promote effective services for victims that will address the physical and psychosocial consequences of abusive behavior that extend beyond the physical injuries.|
   
4. Support efforts to prevent the violence associated with alcohol, illicit drug use, and gun use.
   
5. Encourage professional education and awareness for the identification and treatment of victims of violence.
   
6. Address cultural differences in values and behavioral norms in the design and implementation of violence prevention programs across the state.

Adopted by the vote of the Membership assembled at the 1997 Annual Business Meeting of the Association, October 6, 1997 in Wenatchee, Washington.

Signed by: Michael T. Vinatieri, WSPHA President.

1. Healthy People 2000, National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, 1990.
2. American Public Health Association, Resolution 7620: Handgun Regulation, 1975.
3. Washington State Public Health Report, 1996.