No-Hit Zone
No Hit Zone is a public awareness campaign promoting a s Safe, Secure, and Supportive for children, adults, and families.
The ICAN No Hit Zone Campaign has been launched in LA County following a successful pilot at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center under the direction of Dr. Carol Berkowitz, Chief of the Division of Pediatrics. The ICAN No Hit Zone Campaign will be the first in the Western U.S, building on the American Academy of Pediatrics and our ICAN No Hitter campaign with Joe Torre and the Dodgers. No Hit Zone campaign aims to encourage positive parent-child relationships and reduce the harm that hitting causes children.
Why are No Hit Zones necessary?
Research indicates hitting teaches children to use violence to solve problems. Experiencing violence as a child leads to physical and mental health problems as an adult. Physical punishment does not improve behavior in the long term, and instead leads to more misbehavior and aggression in children.
In addition to research revealing the emotional and behavioral impact of hitting, ICAN’s 30-year retrospective report on child fatalities documented 524 child deaths resulting from physical trauma, often a result of excessive discipline for typical childhood behaviors.
Most LA County agencies have agreed to become No Hit Zones. These agencies distribute educational materials to promote positive discipline, and discourage hitting and bullying. We hope to expand No Hit Zones to communities, schools and organizations throughout LA County.
