LAUSR

ABSTRACT Youth violence is a public health concern that has devastating consequences for communities and requires a collaborative community response. While public health approaches underscore the importance of collaborative efforts to address public health concerns, violence prevention programs are often siloed and lack a multisectored response that includes the education system, criminal justice system, local government, university, and service providers. This article explores the successes and lessons learned from the emergence of a multisectoral community-based initiative to address youth violence in southeastern North Carolina. The model for this initiative evolved from the Harlem Children’s Zone and includes identifying existing resources and coordinating a continuum of support and services to increase availability of after-school, summer enrichment, life-skills, and parenting programs to reduce youth violence. Implications of applying multisectoral community-based interventions are discussed in terms of capacity building, promotion of well-being, and research.