Examines how protective and risk factors associated with two distinct types of youth violence - exposure to and engagement in violence - are nested within four layers of the ecological framework



Offers a bridge between the literature on exposure to violence and involvement in violence among youth



Places prior and contemporary research within an ecological framework that addresses multiple factors related to protective and risk factors associated with exposure to and engagement in violence



Links theory to evidence-based practice by demonstrating how applied and academic knowledge can be used in tandem to encourage translational science to improve neighborhoods and youth experiences within their communities, families, and with their peers while acknowledging the importance of individual characteristics