Blueprints for Violence Prevention

• NCJ Number: 204274
• Author(s): Sharon Mihalic; Abigail Fagan; Katherine Irwin; Diane Ballard; Delbert Elliott
• Date Published: July 2004
• Length: 180 pages
• Grant Number(s): 98-MU-MU-K005
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This report describes the Blueprints for Violence Prevention programs, which have the common aim of preventing violence by juveniles; the lessons learned from evaluations of Blueprints program implementation; and recommendations for program designers, funders, and the agencies and organizations responsible for implementing programs.

Abstract

After reviewing more than 600 programs, the Blueprints initiative has identified 11 model programs and 21 promising programs that prevent violence and drug use and treat youth with problem behaviors. In replicating model programs nationwide, Blueprints has delivered training and technical assistance to 42 sites that have replicated 8 of the Blueprints model violence prevention programs. Another 105 sites have implemented a model drug prevention program. This report outlines the selection criteria for model programs and then describes the various types of Blueprints programs. "Environmentally focused programs" encompass those designed to change the home environment and the school environment. "Individually focused programs" address social skills, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral programs; mentoring and tutoring; and community supervision and aftercare. Lessons learned from process evaluations of Blueprints programs are presented in chapters on the importance of implementation fidelity, the assessment of site readiness, and the challenges of implementation. Recommendations for the agencies and organizations that implement programs pertain to the selection of a program after careful research, enhancement of site readiness, and improvement in the quality of implementation. Recommendations for program designers pertain to the development of program materials, the internal capacity to deliver the program, and the proactive training technical assistance package; pilot-test training and technical assistance; and assessment of the readiness of the site to adopt the program. Recommendations for funders focus on support for research-based programs, implementation research, and capacity building. Another recommendation for funders is to require accountability with funding. 228 references and appended process evaluation research design and the site visit questionnaire