NCJ Number
160454
Date Published
1991
Length
108 pages
Annotation
Fifty-one violence prevention programs for youths ages 10-15 years were surveyed to determine the state of the art in youth violence prevention programs and their evaluation as part of the preparation for a conference sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Abstract
A two-stage survey was developed and the instrument was mailed to 83 programs in April and May 1990. The response rate was 51 percent. Additional data were gathered by means of follow-up interviews. Results revealed that project goals are wide-ranging. Programs generally served both males and females in approximately equal numbers. Programs operate in varied settings, particularly schools and community organizations. Seventy percent of the programs cited as a major achievement the reaching of a large number of people through activities that ranged from providing training and technical assistance to making presentations. Barriers to success included security adequate funding, working effectively with school systems, developing community support for gang prevention and intervention programs, and conducting evaluations. Outcome evaluation was relatively rare; most programs were being evaluated through process evaluation and program monitoring. The analysis produced information that can inform violence prevention and evaluation efforts, particularly in the area of helping refine measurable outcomes and evaluation models for the future. Profiles of 11 projects; reference notes; and appended list of conference participants, survey instrument, chart of additional responses, and summaries of further programs