Prevention Plan

As of December, 2017, the Prevention Task Force has a working, complete draft of the Buncombe County Violence Prevention Plan. Below is the overview of the plan, followed by the guiding value statements. At the bottom of this page is a link to the complete draft.

Core values that guided the drafting of this plan

In Buncombe County, we believe…

1. Buncombe County can be a resilient community free from domestic violence, sexual violence, and child abuse.
2. All people have the right to feel safe in their relationships with others.
3. Violence includes physical abuse as well as non-physical, emotional abuse.
4. Those impacted by violence are not at fault for the violence inflicted upon them.
5. People who perpetrate violence in our community are responsible for that violence and should be held accountable.
6. Violence is preventable and knowledge is power. All community members have a right to education that helps them recognize multiple forms of violence, examine attitudes toward violence, and develop skills to intervene in violent situations.
7. We believe in healthy relationships where people resolve conflict respectfully. At any age or stage of life, people can learn skills in coping, self-regulation, and conflict resolution; these skills should be taught and modeled explicitly across our community.
8. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)* have a tremendous impact on physical and emotional health across the lifespan. ACEs also greatly increases future violence victimization and perpetration. Preventing violence and trauma in childhood may be the most impactful way to break intergenerational cycles of violence and build healthier, safer communities.
9. In order to prevent violence, we must actively work toward creating systems that support all individuals to have equitable power and agency in making decisions about their lives. We will dismantle laws, policies, and cultural norms that support systems of oppression.
10. Community members, including youth, are experts on their communities’ cultures and assets, and their partnership and co-creation of activities is essential to shift norms and prevent violence

*This includes an expanded understanding of ACEs, including community as well as individual/family trauma

Full DRAFT of Buncombe Violence Prevention Plan here