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?