Community Leaders, Experts Look for Ways to Curb Violence in Westchester

National and local public health and mental health experts, along with about 400 civic leaders, educators, clergy, community leaders and public safety professionals gathered in White Plains Tuesday to share ideas about ways to improve violence prevention efforts throughout Westchester. 

Dr. Howard Spivak, director of the Division of Violence Prevention at the national Centers for Disease Control & Prevention in Atlanta, provided a national perspective and set the stage for treating violence as a public health issue.

“CDC is committed to stopping violence before it starts,” Spivak said during the gathering at the Westchester County Center. “Our investments focus on the best ways to prevent violence and apply science for real-world solutions to keep our communities across the nation safe and healthy.”

This forum built on the School Safety Symposium held on Feb. 27 at SUNY Purchase, where former New York City Police Chief William Bratton spoke and which was attended by more than 300 educators and public safety professionals.

“There will never be a 100 percent solution to senseless acts of violence, but we can get better at prevention and success hinges on collaboration,” said Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said. “The goal is to come out of here with a blueprint that will make us smarter; more vigilant and more effective when it comes to stopping senseless acts of violence – whenever and wherever there is a threat. Your experiences and insights will be captured in a report that will become our blueprint for continuous improvement as we go forward.”

The program also included:

• Dr. Robert Amler, dean of the School of Health Sciences & Practice at New York Medical College, moderated a panel discussion that focused on best practices and service gaps. Other panelists included Astorino; Judge Kathie Davidson, supervising judge for the Family Court Ninth Judicial District; bullying expert Joel Haber, PhD; Yonkers Schools Superintendent Bernard Pierorazio; and the Rev. Dr. Franklyn Richardson, senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon.
• Following the panel discussion, audience members participated in four breakout sessions:  
  • Improving Community Partnerships, moderated by Frank Williams, executive director of the White Plains Youth Bureau, with presentations by Jim Bostic, executive director of the Nepperhan Community Center; Carola Bracco, executive director of Neighbors Link in Mount Kisco and Tricy Cushner, president, Alliance for Safe Kids in Yorktown Heights.
  • Treating Violence as a Public Health Issue, moderated by Robert Amler, MD, with presentations by Allison Lake, deputy director of the Westchester Children’s Association; Lorelei Vargas, vice president of strategic initiatives at Andrus; and Stephen J. Ferrando, MD, vice chair for Clinical Services New York-Presbyterian/Westchester Division.

• Building Safer Learning Environments in Schools, moderated by John McCabe of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES, with presentations by Mary Ellen Herzog, assistant superintendent for pupil personnel services at Lakeland Central School District; Ellen Morehouse, executive director of Student Assistance Services; and Michael Sellet, regional safety coordinator for Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES.
• Strengthening Family Safety Nets, moderated by John Befus, deputy commissioner for the county Department of Social Services, with presentations by Judge Davidson, supervising judge for the Family Court 9th Judicial District; Kevin McGuire, commissioner of the  county Department of Social Services; and Amy Siniscalchi, director of programs for My Sister’s Place.                                                                 

• Led by Commissioners Amler and Mitchell, participants regrouped to discuss breakout session highlights and develop action plans, which will be compiled into a report to serve as a blueprint for next steps. An action network was established at the end of the forum and more than 140 audience members signed up to part of it.