Appendix D -- Reports of Selected Commissions and Task Forces

The following reports that include NCJ numbers are available from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). For further information, see Appendix F or call the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse (800-638-8736).

American Bar Association. 1993 (July). America's Children at Risk: A National Agenda for Legal Action. NCJ 152284.

This report was produced by the American Bar Association Presidential Working Group on the Unmet Legal Needs of Children and Their Families. It recommends reforms in legal representation and advocacy of children and their families. The report proposes improvements for assistance to working parents, housing, education, child welfare, families in the courts, juvenile justice and children in institutions, and child support.

American Correctional Association Victims Committee. 1994 (August). Report and Recommendations on Victims of Juvenile Crime. NCJ 159768.

This report offers an assessment of the current status of victims of juvenile offenders. It includes 16 recommendations designed to increase efforts among juvenile justice officials and victim service professionals to meet the needs of the growing victim population.

Carnegie Corporation of New York. 1994 (August). Starting Points: Meeting the Needs of Our Youngest Children.

Prepared by the Carnegie Task Force on Meeting the Needs of Young Children, this report advocates responsible parenthood, the guarantee of quality child-care choices, the availability of good health and protection, and the mobilization of communities to support young children and their families.

Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development. 1994 (April). A Matter of Time: Risk and Opportunity in the Out-of-School Hours.

This publication presents the research findings of the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development's Task Force on Youth Development and Community Programs. The task force conducted an extensive review of existing research and programs, focus group discussions with young adolescents, interviews with youth development leaders from national organizations, an exploratory study of independent youth agencies, 12 commissioned papers, and reports of site visits to programs. It highlights the potential of community organizations to support youth development and provides recommendations for community programs and their key partners in strengthening community programs for youth.

Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development. 1990 (January). Turning Points: Preparing American Youth for the 21st Century. NCJ 119895.

This report offers recommendations for transforming the education of young adolescents in middle schools through strategies such as creating smaller learning environments, assigning an adult adviser for each student, educating students about healthy lifestyles, teaching citizenship, grouping students for learning, providing flexible scheduling, giving teachers greater influence in the classroom, developing expert teachers, ensuring access to health services, keeping parents informed, providing opportunities for youth service, and expanding career guidance. The report urges educators, parents, health-care professionals, youth-serving and community organizations, States, and the President to consider the Council's recommendations and to reevaluate education policy for adolescents.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1994 (June). Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. Review 1993. Hyattsville, Md.: National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NCJ 152389.

This report describes the major activities of the U.S. Public Health Service in 22 priority areas outlined in Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives, a framework laid out in 1990 for actions by the public and private sectors to achieve a healthier Nation by the year 2000.

Child Welfare League of America, Inc. 1994. Research agenda for child welfare. Journal of the Child Welfare League of America 73(5):303. NCJ 151423.

This article describes the creation of the National Council on Research in Child Welfare, which originated as a result of the Child Welfare League of America's national colloquium in February 1990. The colloquium sought to advance knowledge in the child welfare field and developed a research agenda to enhance child welfare practices and public policies targeting children and their families.

Children's Defense Fund. 1994. Wasting America's Future: The Children's Defense Fund Report on the Costs of Child Poverty. Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press.

This book examines the negative effects of poverty on a child's health, academic achievement, and future earning potential. It provides an overview of what money can buy for children and families: food, shelter, opportunities to learn, a decent neighborhood, healthcare, recreation, transportation, and economic opportunities. The book argues that an end to poverty is possible and economically feasible (in terms of costs to taxpayers and the Government), especially when poverty's damaging, long-term economic and social effects are considered.

Children's Legislative Agenda 1994: Budget Updates and Issue Briefs. 1994. Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America, Inc. NCJ 148471.

This legislative agenda of the Child Welfare League of America outlines and documents essential investments that must be made to protect and care for abused and neglected children and troubled families.

Cocozza, J.J., ed. 1992 (November). Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Youth in the Juvenile Justice System. Washington, D.C.: The National Coalition for the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System. NCJ 151847.

This monograph was produced as a result of a National Work Session, convened to address mental health services provided to youth in the juvenile justice system at the Federal, State, and local levels. It explores 11 priorities that emerged from the work session to improve services and guide policies.

Committee for Economic Development. Research and Policy Committee. 1989. Children in Need: Investment Strategies for the Educationally Disadvantaged.

This report calls for a new partnership among businesses, schools, communities, and individuals to foster the health, education, and well-being of disadvantaged children. To improve the outlook for this burgeoning population, the report recommends that policymakers adopt a three-part strategy: develop prevention and early intervention programs for children from birth to age 5 and for teenagers at high risk for pregnancy; restructure the public education system; and provide comprehensive educational, employment, health, and social services programs for disadvantaged students and dropouts. The report includes descriptions of existing programs that are implementing promising strategies to address the needs of disadvantaged children.

Contract With America's Children. 1994 (December). Oakland, Calif.: Children Now.

The Contract With America's Children was drawn up by Children Now, a national nonpartisan policy and advocacy group for children; the Benton Foundation; and the Coalition for America's Children. Supported by more than 100 national organizations, the contract articulates 10 principles that policymakers should honor as they enact policy reforms. It advocates putting children first and valuing all youth. The contract also addresses health, education, and safety issues; family preservation; working families; job training; community responsibility; and leadership accountability.

Crime Prevention in America: Foundations for Action. 1990. Washington, D.C.: National Crime Prevention Council. NCJ 142312.

This publication seeks to inspire community-based action to reduce the crime that plagues the Nation. It includes principles developed by more than 130 national, Federal, and State organizations. Examples used to illustrate these principles were selected to represent geographically diverse communities, problems, and solutions.

Eron, L.D., J. Gentry, and P. Schlegel, eds. 1994 (February). Reason to Hope: A Psychological Perspective on Violence and Youth. 1994. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. NCJ 158633.

This is Volume Two of the Commission on Youth and Violence Report, a compilation of papers on violence and youth prepared by psychologists with expertise in youth violence. This work is based on findings from more than 50 years of research, which has shown that human aggression is learned, that learning alternative nonviolent behavior is possible, and that no single factor influences violent behavior. Commission members identified the individual and environmental factors that can be changed to prevent potentially volatile situations from escalating into violent acts. The document offers guidelines for reducing violence in children's lives.

The Forgotten Half: Non-College Youth in America. 1988 (January). Washington, D.C.: The William T. Grant Foundation Commission on Work, Family, and Citizenship. NCJ 112535.

This report examines the societal and economic implications for the significant number of youth who do not go to college. It proposes recommendations on continuing education and job training, completing the transition from school to the workforce, and expanding employment and promotional opportunities.

Kids Count Data Book: State Profiles of Child Well-Being. 1994. Baltimore, Md.: The Anne E. Casey Foundation. NCJ 148416.

This is a report of a national and State-by-State effort to track the status of youth in the United States and provide benchmarks of child well-being. It includes data on educational, social, economic, and physical characteristics of children.

Murder in America: An IACP Summit Report. 1995 (February). Alexandria, Va.: International Association of Chiefs of Police. NCJ 156236.

This is the working draft of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Murder Summit on November 19, 1994. It calls for new or expanded initiatives in the areas of law enforcement; community and government; legislation; and education and training.

National Commission on Children. 1991. Beyond Rhetoric: A New American Agenda for Children and Families. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. NCJ 142184.

This report provides a basis for developing national policy on America's children and families. Prepared by the National Commission on Children, a bipartisan group established by public law "to serve as a forum on behalf of the children of the Nation," the report focuses on problems of the Nation's children and their families by examining the relationships among health, education, income security, and other forms of support at each stage of a child's development. It sets forth recommendations for individual action, public- and private-sector policies, and program development.

National Commission on Children. 1991. Speaking of Kids: A National Survey of Children and Parents. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

This report is based on the National Commission on Children's national opinion research project. It examines changes in American family life and deals with perceptions of family life, parent-child relationships, time pressures, family structure matters, worries and fears, and support for teenagers. The report concludes with recommendations for supporting and strengthening families, ensuring income security, supporting the transition to adulthood, and creating a good moral climate for children.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. 1984 (Summer). The juvenile court and serious offenders: 38 recommendations. Juvenile and Family Court Journal. NCJ 096101.

This article details recommendations developed and approved by the members of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges on July 12, 1984, at their annual conference in Colorado. Its recommendations are designed to respond to some of the most controversial and significant issues facing courts and the public with regard to serious juvenile offenders. Recommendations cover disposition policies, causes and prevention of juvenile crime, dispositional guidelines, transfer to adult criminal court, confidentiality, treatment considerations, specific programs, and resources.

The National Education Goals Report: Building a Nation of Learners. 1994. Washington, D.C.: National Education Goals Panel.

This report consists of three documents. National Data Volume and State Data Volume include comprehensive sets of measures to describe educational progress at the national and State levels. The central document, 1994 Goals Report, focuses on 16 indicators to communicate to parents, educators, and policymakers what needs to be done to reach the desired educational goals.

National Governors' Association. Kids in Trouble: Coordinating Social and Correctional Service Systems for Youth. Washington, D.C.: Committee on Justice and Public Safety, National Governors' Association. NCJ 137269.

This report provides an overview of innovative approaches to program design and coordination of services for delinquent youth. It describes several programs that are considered exemplary and that can be adapted to the needs of all communities.

Office of National Drug Control Policy. 1995 (February). National Drug Control Strategy 1995: Strengthening Communities' Response to Drugs and Crime. Washington, D.C.: Office of the President. NCJ 152700.

The President's 1995 strategy contains action plans to reduce the demand for illicit drugs; reduce crime, violence, and drug availability; enhance program flexibility and efficiency; and strengthen interdiction and international efforts by empowering communities, improving prevention and treatment, fighting hardcore drug use, and increasing program efforts in source countries.

The State of America's Children Yearbook. 1994. Washington, D.C.: Children's Defense Fund. NCJ 156057.

This annual yearbook includes data on family income, health, children and families in crisis, childcare, early childhood development, housing and hopelessness, hunger and nutrition, adolescent pregnancy prevention, youth development, and violence.

An Urgent Call . . . for a National Plan for Children and Their Families. 1993. Washington, D.C.: Child Welfare League of America, Inc.

This report is designed as a blueprint to chart a new course for America's children and families. It includes a vision for children and families and a role for Government; a set of principles to guide Government programs and services for children and their families; and an implementation strategy to ensure timely and beneficial results of a national children's agenda.

U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect. 1995 (April). A Nation's Shame: Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect in the United States. Washington, D.C.: Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NCJ 157013.

This report contains 26 recommendations of the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, which was asked to recommend a national policy to reduce and prevent child abuse fatalities, changes to achieve an effective Federal role in implementing the policy, and reforms needed to improve data collection about child abuse and neglect fatalities.

Violence and Youth: Psychology's Response. 1993. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. NCJ 147390.

Volume One of the Commission on Youth and Violence Report summarizes the proceedings and highlights key findings. The Commission provides specific recommendations for psychological research and broad public policy recommendations to prevent or mitigate the effects of youth violence. It advocates early childhood intervention, school-based educational programs, cultural diversity awareness, positive media involvement, firearms prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, education programs on hate crimes, control of mob violence, and professional involvement of psychologists in youth violence reduction.

Violence: Report to the President and Domestic Policy Council. 1994 (January). Washington, D.C.: Interdepartmental Working Group on Violence. NCJ 159325.

This report was prepared by representatives from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, and Labor; and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. It addresses the following violence-related topics: firearms, media, juvenile crime and violence, schools, youth development, family violence, hate violence, ethnic conflict, gangs, and sexual assault. One subgroup focused on places where violent acts occur, and the Cities Project worked with State and local officials in Atlanta, GA, Denver, CO, Nebraska, and Washington, D.C., to develop broad-based, coordinated anti-violence initiatives in their communities.

Contents | Foreword | Acknowledgments | Introduction | Summary
Figures | Objectives | Conclusion | Appendixes