Department of Justice Launches "Changing Minds" Campaign to Help Children Exposed to Violence

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have launched a national campaign to raise awareness, teach skills and inspire public action to address children's exposure to violence. The campaign, called Changing Minds, is a collaboration led by DOJ's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Futures Without Violence, the Ad Council and the advertising agency Wunderman. Members of the media are invited to call and speak with campaign officials Thursday, October 20 at 4:30 p.m.

The new campaign is part of DOJ's Defending Childhood Initiative, launched in 2010 by then-Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. Defending Childhood funds grants, research and public education aimed at preventing children's exposure to violence, mitigating its impact and expanding knowledge about and awareness of the issue. Exposure to violence is associated with a host of negative consequences, from poor performance in school and substance abuse to depression, chronic disease and future criminality. Research indicates that proper intervention, including support from caring adults, can help counter those effects.

Changing Minds features digital and print content intended to reach adults who interact with children and youth in grades K–12. It will engage teachers, coaches, counselors, doctors, nurses, law enforcement officers and other frontline professionals and caregivers, guiding them on ways they can help children recover from trauma.

WHAT:
Press call-in for Launch of Changing Minds Campaign
Campaign materials: changingmindsNOW.org.

WHEN:         
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2016
4:30 – 5:15 P.M.  EDT

CALL IN NUMBER: 1-877-270-2148

WHO:            
John B. King, Jr., Secretary of Education
Karol V. Mason, Assistant Attorney General
Joe Torre, Major League Baseball Chief of Baseball Operations and Co-Chairman of the Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Related Links

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov