NCJ Number
173702
Journal
Pennsylvania Progress Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: May 1995 Pages: -
Date Published
1995
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper describes the philosophy and model of Pennsylvania's risk-focused approach to juvenile delinquency prevention and its implementation experience.
Abstract
Under the risk-focused prevention philosophy, the local community mobilizes to examine the societal conditions that place its youth at risk. Empowered with an understanding of its needs, the community then works to establish specific program and services to address the identified problem areas. Pennsylvania juvenile justice officials selected the Communities That Care (CTC) risk-focused prevention model developed by J. David Hawkins and Richard F. Catalano. CTC is a community empowerment strategy that emphasizes assessment and planning as the basis for program development and implementation. The model is based on research that has shown that a number of risk factors increase the chances of adolescents developing health and behavior problems. The model suggests that risk factors exist in four domains: community (availability of drugs, economic, and social deprivation); family (family history of high-risk behavior); school (academic failure, lack of commitment to school); and individual/peer (friends who engage in problem behavior). The risk-focused prevention cornerstone of the model helps leaders identify the risk factors present in their community, so that they can prevent problem behaviors before they are established. In just 12 months, Pennsylvania has seen the promise of risk-focused prevention become reality for eight target counties. These communities have dedicated the time and resources necessary to achieve formal Key Leader and Prevention Policy Boards, as well as conducting community assessments and constructing appropriate programming to meet the identified risks. Through a team effort, Pennsylvania's Commission on Crime and Delinquency and its Juvenile Advisory Committee have worked to support the counties in their endeavors by coordinating funding sources, marshaling existing State resources, and providing technical assistance to create a cadre of risk-focused prevention experts within the State.