Today's children are bombarded with images of violence in cartoons, news reports, television shows, computer games, movies, and other media. In growing numbers, they are also exposed to real-life violence in their own homes and communities--as witnesses, victims, and increasingly, as perpetrators. Emphasizing the need for early intervention and prevention, this book examines the impact of violence exposure on children and youth, discusses several existing programs, and proposes new approaches to the problem. The first section of the book details the incidence, scope, and impact of the violence epidemic. This section's chapters are: (1) "Children and Youth Violence: An Overview of the Issue" (Osofsky); (2) "Exposure and Response to Community Violence among Children and Adolescents" (Jenkins and Bell); (3) "What Children Can Tell Us about Living in a War Zone" (Garbarino and Kostelny); (4) "Firearm Injuries Affecting U.S. Children and Adolescents" (Christoffel); (5) "Media Violence and Youth" (Murray); (6) "The Experience and Effects of Violence in Infancy" (Zeanah and Scheeringa); (7) "Incubated in Terror: Neurodevelopmental Factors in the 'Cycle of Violence'" (Perry); (8) "The Development of Violence and Crime as It Relates to Security of Attachment" (Fonagy and others). The second section of the book examines exemplary prevention and intervention programs currently in place in major cities. This section's chapters are: (9) "Interventions with Parents and Caregivers of Children Who Are Exposed to Violence" (Groves and Zuckerman); (10) "Experiencing Violence in a Developmental Context" (Marans and Adelman); (11) "The Trauma/Grief-Focused Group Psychotherapy Module of an Elementary School-Based Violence Prevention/Intervention Program" (Murphy and others); (12) "The Violence Intervention Project for Children and Families" (Osofsky); (13) "Perceptions of Violence: Children, Parents, and Police Officers" (Fick and others); (14) "Violent Cities, Violent Streets: Children Draw Their Neighborhoods" (Lewis and Osofsky); (15) "Cops and Kids: Issues for Community Policing" (Jenkins and others); and (16) "Prevention and Policy: Directions for the Future" (Osofsky). Each chapter contains references. (HTH)