Injury and violence are significant and largely preventable public health problems. The purpose of Elevating Injury and Violence Prevention: A Strategic Plan for North Carolina (2015-2020) is to enhance injury prevention efforts in our state over the next five years. This plan also updates Building for Strength: North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Preventing Injuries and Violence 2009-2014 and its 2012 Addendum. Designed as a guide for any agency, organization, or individual working on injury and violence prevention in NC, this plan can be used to determine priorities, make funding decisions, and identify ways to coordinate with others in North Carolina working to accomplish a similar mission.

BUILDING ON SUCCESS

North Carolina’s first comprehensive statewide plan, Building for Strength, written in 2008, was based on a compilation of surveys, surveillance data, evidence-based prevention strategies, and reviews of expert panel recommendations that were focused on injury and violence prevention. This input from stakeholders was used to carve the plan’s objectives, strategies, and benchmarks in injury and violence prevention for 2009 to 2014.

In August 2009, the Injury and Violence Prevention State Advisory Council (IVP-SAC) was formed to facilitate the collaborations of stakeholders to comprehensively reduce the burdens of injury and violence. IVP-SAC’s membership, led by the IVPB, includes stakeholders from a multitude of injury prevention areas: drug overdose, older adult falls, motor vehicle crashes, traumatic brain injury, emergency services, child maltreatment, child safety, intimate partner violence, and suicide.

Based on progress achieved from 2009 to 2012, an addendum to Building for Strength was released in 2012 with revised objections and action plans.

The IVPB has consulted with stakeholders since September 2015 to assess goals, strategies, and indicators of progress to create a new state injury and violence strategic prevention plan for 2015 to 2020. Elevating Injury and Violence Prevention thus reflects progress made and lessons learned since Building for Strength and its addendum.

Contact the Injury and Violence Prevention Branch at beinjuryfreenc@dhhs.nc.gov for more information.