No Hit Zones promote healthy relationships and safe environments across the lifespan through awareness, education and skill-building.
A No Hit Zone is an environment that supports a culture of safety and health where:
- No adult shall hit another adult.
- No adult shall hit a child.
- No child shall hit an adult.
- No child shall hit another child.
The No Hit Zone concept was originally created by Lolita McDavid, MD, professor of pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, in 2005. Since its initial inception within pediatric hospital settings, No Hit Zones have expanded throughout the country and beyond the walls of hospitals, today becoming communitywide initiatives that create safer environments for people everywhere.
Leading the charge here in Kansas, Wesley Children’s Hospital offers a wide range of resources that encourage participation by community partners, including implementation tools, staff training, resources for community engagement and program materials. No Hit Zone implementation plans can be customized to fit the needs and interests of any organization or community, yet remain connected to a larger, unified effort that promotes healthy kids and safer communities.
No Hit Zones promote a culture of safety and health for children, adults, families and communities:
No Hit Zones support healthy relationships and safe environments across the lifespan.
Hitting can be prevented and is harmful to physical, emotional and mental health. A No Hit Zone applies to the action of hitting a child as a form of punishment, sibling conflict, elder abuse and other forms of adult violence.
No Hit Zones focus on prevention and support during early signs of distress.
The No Hit Zone program supports united goals, consistent messaging and collaborative work to grow healthy kids, strengthen families and support safer communities.
No Hit Zones promote nonviolent ways to work through conflict, an important part of all healthy relationships.
A focus is on the prevention of hitting and providing support to others during early signs of distress. Supportive intervention can reduce a problem and promote safety.
Children learn by watching and interacting with adults. Adults should model and teach positive ways to work through conflict.
Program Partners
Wesley Children’s Hospital would like to recognize the many community partners who are helping spread the No Hit Zone initiative across our community. Together, we are leading the way to create a safer and healthier community for all of us.
- Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County
- Wichita Public Schools
- The Wichita State University
- Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office
