YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION Mio Tamanaha

July 15, 2012

Three Case Studies

Futures Without Violence Private not-for-profit organization based in

San Fransisco, California Youth Violence Systems Project (YVSP)

A collaborative ‘study’ between based in Boston, Massachusetts

Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE) An national initiative led by the CDC

Futures Without Violence

Futures Without Violence

Design Simple, modern design with a good balance of text and images on

most pages, but too narrow a laptop screen Content

Information on organization’s programs Current initiatives, acts, bills related to women and children and

domestic violence Current events and news Resources for people experiencing domestic violence

Tone Pedagogical, formal and serious, leadership position

Interactivity, Outreach, and Social Media Online advocacy, online donations, e-newsletters, e-

announcements, solicit ‘action’ by e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube

SWOT Analysis

Strengths• Active use of social media

(Facebook, Twitter)• A lot of substantive information and

materials• Online advocacy capability• Effective use of videos on web site• Updated information on current

events, policy issues• YouTube Videos• Appears credible and well-

connected• Resources for website and social

media (currently hiring two positions)

Weaknesses• Homepage could be organized

better—slightly confusing with the options on the top and bottom of the page containing some of the same links and some distinct ones

• Needs more levels of vertical categorization

• Some non-uniformity in language (e-mail updates, eAlerts, action alerts, action elist)

• Width of the content section is too narrow, wastes space on the sides

Opportunities• Increase involvement in “Take

Action Now” by getting more people to sign up for Action Alerts or spreading the word through Facebook and Twitter

Threats• Other violence prevention websites• Failed attempts at affecting change

in policy

Youth Violence Systems Project

Web Strategy

Design Appealing color scheme and balance of text and images

Content Description of computer simulation model Description and statistics for the four Boston area communities

involved in modeling Articles and information on community-based processes, youth violence

in Boston Videos about affected youth, the model, and project activities

Tone Explaining/justifying what they are doing, progressive and cutting-edge,

non-pedagogical Interactivity, Outreach, and Social Media

Log in for people with user accounts, no active outreach to new communities, no Twitter or Facebook, multiple videos on YouTube, a simple online poll for youth, model download

SWOT Analysis

Strengths• An unusual purpose in creating a

predictive youth violence model• Reaches out to youth, though very

simply• Elevates the role of community

members and youth themselves as experts

• Videos explaining the computer simulation model in visuals

• Good information on each of the featured communities

 

Weaknesses• No social media strategy• No budget set aside for digital

media• Computer simulation model can be

a difficult concept to grasp• No community voice on website• Not clear who the target audience

is• If they are going to reach out to

youth, they should develop that page and interactive functions

• URL has nothing to do with name of organization

Opportunities• An interesting platform on which

to engage and collaborate with more communities

• To become a leader in modeling of risky behaviors in general

  

Threats• Negative experiences by

community members may affect collaboration and input

 

Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE)

Web Strategy

Design Slightly heavy on the images, and color scheme looks like a children’s

website Options are well-placed, with those catering towards professionals at the

top and a more general audience at the bottom Content

Introduction to the issue of youth violence through text and video Statistics, articles, evidence-based strategies around youth violence

prevention Links to relevant organizations Funding sources First-hand accounts of community programs that are working right now

Tone Explanatory, clear and succinct

Interactivity, Outreach, and Social Media Video training on website, E-newsletter options for other relevant

organizations, No Facebook or Twitter, YouTube videos

SWOT Analysis

Strengths• Backed by the CDC, the website

feels credible and trustworthy.• The STRYVE home page is

generally well-organized and contains substantive information.

• Good visibility when Googling “youth violence prevention.”

 

Weaknesses• No social media. • Two different URLs for the same

page is confusing.• URLs don’t include ‘Stryve’• When going through

vetoviolence.org URL, animated introduction has no substance and is annoying to sit through.

• No interactive elements, no sign of humans.

Opportunities• Specific links could be categorized

further to assist visitors in efficiently finding what they are looking for.

• The online video trainings could be developed more to be useful to professionals already in the field.

 

Threats• Competition for “Stryve” name on

Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube 

Comparison ChartFutures Without Violence

Youth Violence Systems Project

STRYVE

Twitter x

Facebook x

YouTube videos x x

E-newsletters x x

E-mail announcements

x

Online donations x

Online advocacy x

Online video trainings

x x x

Online Community/forum

? x

Links to other organizations

x x x

Designated Staff x Unknown

Recommendations

Futures Without Violence ….

Youth Violence Systems Project Feature the voices of the four communities Get involved in social media

STRYVE Add contact information, including a

contact person’s name Get involved in social media

Thank you.

Questions?