Blueprints
Fact Sheets
| Blueprints for Violence Prevention Selection Process |
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The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence
(CSPV) is frequently asked why only eleven programs
were selected as Blueprint violence prevention programs—programs
which CSPV attests work effectively. This paper summarizes
the Blueprint selection process and describes CSPV's
position on why there are so few violence prevention
programs that have been demonstrated to work.
In selecting Blueprint programs CSPV established
a high standard of program effectiveness. CSPV's criterion
for successful programs is higher than most other
organizations that maintain a position on what works
in violence prevention. The Blueprint evaluation standards
include:
- an experimental design,
- evidence of a statistically significant (or marginal)
deterrent effect,
- replication at multiple sites with demonstrated
effects, and
- evidence that the deterrent effect was sustained
for at least one year post treatment.
This set of selection criteria establishes a very
high standard: one that proved difficult to meet.
However, it reflects the level of confidence necessary
if CSPV is going to recommend that communities replicate
these programs with reasonable assurance that they
will prevent violence.
In the search for Blueprint programs, CSPV staff
has reviewed more than 600 delinquency, drug and violence
prevention programs. The overwhelming majority of
these programs have never been evaluated and, therefore,
CSPV is unable to ascertain their effectiveness. There
are a handful of programs that have been evaluated
and found to be ineffective and, in a few cases, programs
have even been demonstrated to have negative effects.
However, this is a rare outcome; most of the programs
are simply waiting for a thorough scientific evaluation.
This evaluation is underway for a number of the 600
programs and several of these have met the first two
criteria but they are not far enough along in the
evaluation process to determine issues of sustained
effect or successful multiple site replication. CSPV
has identified these programs as Promising Programs
which may likely, after further evaluation, meet CSPV
Blueprint standards and become future Blueprint Programs.
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