NCJ Number
202573
Date Published
2002
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides an overview of the "Community Works" program, which teaches youth about crime and violence, how to prevent crimes, and how to become involved in service projects that benefit the community.
Abstract
Community Works has three major components: crime prevention educational materials, a community resource person (CRP), and action projects. The program has 31 sessions that address crime prevention education. The crimes targeted include theft, vandalism, rape, and hate crimes. The second program component, the use of a CRP, involves the use of persons whose knowledge and skills are necessary to present the lessons of Community Works. Different sessions may require a different CRP; for example, a rape crisis counselor might present the session on rape, and a business owner can lead the session on the costs of vandalism on commercial property. The third component, action projects, brings together what the youth have learned in the various instruction sessions, implementing it in the planning and delivering of various projects to benefit the community in the area of public safety. After profiling the three components of Community Works, this booklet outlines the steps for establishing a program. These include becoming familiar with the program materials and procedures, the development of a team to provide the leadership for program building, and determination of the logistics for program development. The latter step involves determining who will teach the sessions, where they will be taught, which lessons will be used, the frequency of the sessions, and who must approve the use of Community Works. The outline of a sample session from the Community Works materials is presented. It is entitled, "Diversity and Bias Awareness: A Look at Stereotypes."