OJJDP News @ a Glance, Volume III, Number 2 (March/April 2004)

• NCJ Number: 204171
• Journal: OJJDP News @ a Glance Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2004 Pages: 1-6
• Date Published: March 2004
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Series: OJJDP News @ a Glance
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This issue reports on OJJDP (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)-sponsored programs designed to counter juvenile substance abuse, the National Youth Gang Survey, an update on OJJDP funding, the first meeting of the new Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and other OJJDP news.

Abstract

OJJDP sponsors a number of programs that support efforts of States and communities nationwide to prevent and reduce juvenile substance abuse. The feature article of this issue focuses on the cornerstones of these programs, i.e., evidence-based strategies and collaboration with other Federal agencies. Part of this effort is the implementation of two school-based prevention program models: Project ALERT and Project SUCCESS. Project ALERT targets middle school students, and Project SUCCESS targets students in alternative high school settings. Evaluation findings from these programs will enhance knowledge about effective prevention strategies. The "Blueprints for Violence Prevention: Drug Prevention Initiative" supports more than 100 sites that have implemented the school-based Life Skills Training program, which is designed to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use among junior-high and middle-school students. A collaborative effort of OJJDP and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, entitled the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, aims to reduce substance abuse among youth through the work of community coalitions. This article also describes a program that supports State efforts to enforce underage drinking laws. A report on the National Youth Gang Survey indicates that OJJDP will soon publish a new Fact Sheet on the survey that indicates approximately 21,500 gangs with 731,500 members were active in more than 2,300 cities in 2002. The OJJDP funding update describes current solicitations for profiled grant programs. The first meeting of the new Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee -- established to advise OJJDP and evaluate the progress and accomplishments of juvenile justice activities and projects and report to the President and Congress -- focused on administrative and organizational matters. OJJDP online resources are listed.