This study evaluated the youth at risk program called Coaching for Communities (CFC).
Results indicate that CFC is effective in improving social behavior as well as maintaining those young people in school, work, or training. Results are less promising with respect to criminal behavior and the use of drugs, alcohol, and other substances. Antisocial behavior by young people continues to trouble three western developed nations; in the United Kingdom there is reason to believe that levels are increasing while crime levels decrease. Work undertaken shows increases in conduct and emotional problems over a 25-year period. There is a need for more evidence-based innovation, more rigorous evaluation, and more widespread application of proven models. Youth at risk accepted not only the challenge to evaluate its CFC program rigorously, but also the considerable tightening up of the approach and the production of a manual to support the evaluation and make practice more consistent. Rigorous evaluation was restricted to one CFC program. Tables, figures, note, and references