YOUTH VIOLENCE AND GAMBLING PROJECT: A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH

This project is an extension of a previous program examining a positive youth development approach to violence prevention. The program explores how personal and social resources reduce the likelihood of youth violence by providing a buffer from precipitants of violence and providing a catalyst for thriving behavior. This project extends the initial study by testing these assumptions in two areas of Los Angeles that vary in demographic characteristics, yet share high rates of juvenile violence. This survey of 1000 youth will inform community leaders and the public about the role of developmental resources in promoting positive development and violence prevention. Four program evaluations of local violence prevention efforts will be conducted to assess the use of best practice strategies for violence prevention and positive youth development. This part of the project will provide evaluation reports and an assessment strategy for each program. Finally, forty youth, nominated as exemplary outcomes of these programs, will be studied to assess the importance of best practice strategies and developmental resources to program effectiveness. The project will inform prevention practices by extending empirical support for positive youth development strategies in violence prevention through the compilation of findings collected from diverse community settings. NCA/NCF