Academic Centers for Excellence on Youth Violence Prevention

Youth violence is a major public health issue for both individuals and communities. Each year, more than 5,000 youths between the ages of 10 and 24 die by homicide, making homicide the second leading cause of death for this age group. In September 2010, CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention funded four new Academic Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention.

The purpose of the ACE Program in 2010–2015 is to support Academic Centers of Excellence to reduce youth violence in one defined high–risk community by implementing and evaluating a comprehensive strategy to prevent youth violence. ACEs are expected to engage in collaborations among researchers and local organizations (including the local health department) and a defined high-risk community, with the common goal of reducing youth violence. Centers will consist of 3 core features:

• A core administrative infrastructure to support implementation and evaluation activities, to foster necessary collaborations, and to work together as an ACE Youth Violence Prevention Network
• Integrated implementation and evaluation activities focused on a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to youth violence prevention
• Integrated training activities for junior and future researchers in youth violence prevention to complement the implementation and evaluation activities of the Center