title: Constructing "Packages" of Evidence-Based Programs to Prevent Youth Violence: Processes and Illustrative Examples From the CDC's Youth Violence Prevention Centers.
abstract: This paper describes the strategic efforts of six National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPC), funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to work in partnership with local communities to create comprehensive evidence-based program packages to prevent youth violence. Key components of a comprehensive evidence-based approach are defined and examples are provided from a variety of community settings (rural and urban) across the nation that illustrate attempts to respond to the unique needs of the communities while maintaining a focus on evidence-based programming and practices. At each YVPC site, the process of selecting prevention and intervention programs addressed the following factors: (1) community capacity, (2) researcher and community roles in selecting programs, (3) use of data in decision-making related to program selection, and (4) reach, resources, and dosage. We describe systemic barriers to these efforts, lessons learned, and opportunities for policy and practice. Although adopting an evidence-based comprehensive approach requires significant upfront resources and investment, it offers great potential for preventing youth violence and promoting the successful development of children, families and communities.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, 1440 15th Street, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA. beverly.kingston@colorado.edu.
authors.forename: Beverly
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Martica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacallao
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smokowski
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutherland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D019058:Community Networks; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Community-academic partnerships; Comprehensive approach; Evidence-based programs; Violence prevention