An ad hoc committee will plan a two-day public workshop designed to illuminate the current state of the science surrounding the impacts of exposure to violence and trauma on both neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes. The workshop will feature a strong focus on exposure in childhood and the impacts of such exposure across the life-course (exploration across the life-course could include: general health and well-being, mental health, substance abuse, and outcomes related to re-victimization, and perpetration), but could explore other aspects of exposure throughout the lifespan-- including areas such as PTSD in returning combatants and refugees..

The workshop will also feature an exploration of the prevention and intervention opportunities grounded in this science-- especially in the ways in which parents and caregivers can work to build resiliency and mentally-strong children and youth.

To these ends, proposed questions for consideration by invited speakers and guests could include:

1. What is known about how exposure to violence or trauma impacts the brain, body, and development?
2. What is known about the long-term impacts of exposure to violence and trauma?
3. In what ways can the evidence-base be leveraged to develop primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programming? At what ages should these approaches be taken? Are there novel ways to apply the science?
4. What efforts are currently underway in this space and how might violence prevention practitioners and researchers further advance the knowledge-base?
5. Where are there opportunities for collaboration across sectors in this context?

The committee will develop the workshop agenda, select and invite speakers and discussants, and moderate the discussions. Experts will be drawn from the public and private sectors as well as from academic organizations and multilaterals to allow for multi-directional, evidence-based discussions. A proceedings in brief of the presentations and discussions at the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.