Violence Prevention
Changing the social norms that accept violence as part of life…
"We are all either Bullies, Bullied, or Bystanders" ~ Richard L. Gross, MD, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention
Believing we can change the social norms that accept violence as part of life, Ted Waitt has been supporting violence prevention through the Waitt Foundation since 1993. In 2005, he founded the Waitt Institute for Violence Prevention(WIVP) as an operating unit of the Waitt Foundation to carry on this work. Led by Executive Director Cindy Waitt, WIVP is the only private foundation in America focused solely on primary prevention, working to help break the cycle of violence in our homes, schools and communities.
Beginning in the Waitt family hometown of Sioux City, Iowa, and continuing in San Diego, where the Waitt Foundation is now headquartered, WIVP’s reach extends beyond these local communities to even the national level today with three key initiatives:
More than three women a day are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the U.S. ~ FVPF
1) Gender Violence Prevention
The core of WIVP’s work is gender violence prevention, the most damaging and pervasive form of violence in the U.S. By reaching out to youth, bringing men to the table and raising awareness of the pervasive harm caused by gender violence, WIVP and partners such as the Family Violence Prevention Fund and Mentors in Violence Prevention are working every day to stem the tide of violence in Sioux City and beyond via grass roots initiatives, national and international violence prevention messages and intensive legislative activity.
One in three adolescent girls in the U.S. is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner. ~ FVPF
2) School Bullying and Violence Prevention
WIVP believes that reaching youth early and often is the key to changing attitudes and behaviors. Setting up prototype programs in Sioux City schools that hopefully can be used as national models one day, WIVP has introduced violence prevention modules such as Coaching Boys into Men and Second Step into elementary schools, plus has supported middle school curriculums such as Bully-Proofing Your School.
3) Workplace Violence Prevention
37 percent of workers have been bullied, 13 percent currently and 24 percent previously. ~ WBI
WIVP wants to call out and prevent violence anywhere it may happen, and psychological violence in the workplace is an escalating issue for workers and employers alike. Called workplace bullying, this type of violence can include verbal abuse, offensive conduct or even work interference and sabotage.
Partnering with the Workplace Bullying Institute in 2007, WIVP co-sponsored a national Zogby poll revealing that 37 percent of the U.S. workforce, or 54 million people, have been bullied at work. This is four times more common than harassment based on illegal discrimination.
Violence Prevention Projects
"The pursuit of a quick fix comes at a tremendous cost." ~ Crystal Darkness: Meth's Deadly Assault on our Families
Many WIVP projects originating from the Siouxland region have gone on to have impact at the state and national level. Read More…
In addition, several violence prevention initiatives have been designed to meet the specific needs of the San Diego area. Working with the San Diego Community Foundation to fund the Stop Gang Related Violence in San Diego NOW campaign, and supporting the San Diego County Prevention Coalition’s award-winning documentary, Crystal Darkness: Documentary on Meth’s Deadly Assault on our Families, are just two ways that WIVP continues its ongoing commitment to prevent violence before it starts.
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