Participants in "Building Safe Schools and Healthy Communities: The West Virginia Response" worked to accomplish several goals, including:

• To strengthen collaboration among citizens, elected officials, community, religious, and civic leaders in identifying factors that place young people at risk of committing violent acts;
• To heighten awareness among community leaders regarding the important intervention strategies aimed at reducing youth violence;
• To mobilize community leaders to formulate partnerships designed to discourage violence;
• To highlight local violence prevention strategies and community initiatives which are effective and encourage other communities to model successful efforts; and
• To support continued local, state, and national cooperation and leadership in focusing on prevention and intervention efforts which reduce violence in schools and communities.