Project RADAR
Intimate partner violence (IPV), or domestic violence/abuse, is a public health issue of epidemic proportions. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates that IPV costs the United States $4.1 billion each year in direct medical costs alone. IPV is more prevalent among women than diabetes, breast cancer, and cervical cancer; and, in addition to traumatic injuries, contributes to a number of chronic health problems, including depression, alcohol and substance abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases. Health care providers are in a unique position to identify and provide intervention and referral services to victims of IPV, and research supports the effectiveness of brief clinical interventions in preventing further abuse and improving the health outcomes of victims. Project RADAR is an initiative designed to assist Virginia's health care professionals in implementing such interventions by providing them with "best practice" recommendations, strategies, training programs, and educational materials.

Youth Violence Prevention
In Virginia, homicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents aged 15-19. In a national survey of high school students, approximately 1/3 report having been in a physical fight within the last year. In addition to physical injuries that these incidents cause, research suggests that violence is linked to a number of other high-risk behaviors, including weapon carrying, unsafe sexual practices, binge drinking, and the use/abuse of illegal drugs. By implementing routine screenings to identify warning signs of and risk factors for violence, health care providers can play an important role in not only helping adolescent and teen patients recover but also in preventing further violent episodes. The Center for Injury & Violence Prevention has information, tools, and materials available to assist health care providers in effectively assessing and responding to violence in the lives of their youth patients.

Youth Suicide Prevention
In 2003, 547 of Virginia's youth aged 10-19 inflicted injury upon themselves. Of these, 93 successfully completed a suicide attempt. Although suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among young people, rates have slowly declined over the last decade; and research suggests that it is preventable. Health care professionals are positioned to play a critical role in suicide prevention efforts, as many of the risk and protective factors associated with youth suicide are centered on: appropriate clinical interventions, access to psychological and substance abuse treatment, and the level of available support in medical and mental health relationships. The Center for Injury & Violence Prevention offers medical and mental health providers emerging research and evidence-based strategies to assist them in their efforts to identify risk factors and enhance protective factors in the health care setting.

Unintentional Injury Prevention
Injuries were the fourth leading cause of death for all Virginia residents. Injury remains the leading cause of death for Virginians between 1 and 44 years of age. More children and adolescents died from injury than from all other causes combined. The Division of Injury and Violence Prevention's Unintentional Injury Prevention Program primarily focuses its unintentional injury prevention efforts on the leading mechanisms of injury among children 19 years of age and younger (i.e. bicycle-related, drowning, falls, fire-related, passenger safety, pedestrian-related, poisoning and suffocation) and those 65 years of age and older (i.e. falls, fire-related, passenger safety and poisoning).