Resiliency And Ecological Models In Social Policy

2. Ecological Approaches to Crime

Resiliency and ecological models in social policy are highly significant. In the area of crime and prevention, an ecological format entails a thoughtful consideration of all the risk and protective factors that affect individuals who commit crimes and violence. The focus cannot remain only on punishment, (e.g., imprisonment) but all factors leading up to the criminal act and what follows. Effectively decreasing crime rates in the long term would require a comprehensive series of considerations, methods, and programs. Crime, especially, is ideally prevented before there is an overwhelming need for interventions and postventions (i.e., the responses to the crime). However, even with excellent prevention strategies, they cannot always reach everyone, so there is still the need for appropriate interventions and postventions. The ecological model, which emphasizes developmental, holistic, and macro-level policies, brings together the various facets of the lives in a community. Implementing policies with an ecological focus is quite difficult. People are not always interested in funding these policies, because while the effect may be much greater, it can take a much longer time to get there. It is also a challenge because while some areas of prevention may make sense to the average citizen, many can be less direct and hard to make sense of in understanding the connections and significance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed several
(2015, February 19). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/youthviolence/cpted.html
David-Ferdon, C., & Simon, T. R. (2012). Striving To Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE): The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national initiative to prevent youth violence foundational resource. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and