From WikiCODOPN

[edit] Introduction

Currently, in the United States, there is no national strategy or integrated approach to creating nonviolent alternatives for dealing with domestic/interpersonal violence.

A quick overview of the "Major Programs" of Federal Departments / Agencies indicates there are currently no top level programs focused specifically on constructive conflict management, creating nonviolent alternatives to domestic / interpersonal conflicts, peacemaking, etc. There are many excellent segmented programs that deal with domestic/interpersonal violence at lower levels within several existing Departments / Agencies. However, because programs operating at these lower levels of different Departments work independently, their efforts are segmented and do not work together efficiently to provide integrated services and products to the End Users. To be blunt, there are children (and adults) in this country who are being left behind despite the current laws and rhetoric.

[edit] Role of the Department of Peace and Nonviolence

Important roles of the Department of Peace and Nonviolence will be to:

• identify individuals, families, groups, and organizations involved in situations that may escalate to violence.
• assimilate the specialized inputs / intervention programs (related to peacemaking) of Partner Departments,
• add new developments generated from DoPN internal analyses and research,
• construct comprehensive Integrated Products and Services, and
• take responsibility for the effective delivery of the Services /Products to the End User.

These Integrated Products and Services will provide nonviolent alternatives for the diverse needs of the Service Recipients/ End Users.

Although the goal of significantly reducing domestic/interpersonal violence is achievable, our segmented approach is obviously not working. A National strategy, and an agency that focuses on achieving that goal is needed. The Department of Peace and Nonviolence can be designed to accomplish that national goal.

The current cost of domestic/interpersonal violence in the U.S. is over $300 Billion per year or $1000 for every child, women, and man in the United States. The non-valued cost of interpersonal violence to the U.S. is equivalent to the combined budget of 11 federal Departments / Agencies.