NCJ Number
154844
Date Published
Unknown
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This technical assistance report presents suggested strategies for use by community-based antidrug coalitions as a starting point for a comprehensive community approach to address the conditions that lead to youth and gang violence.
Abstract
Such an effort acknowledges that neither drugs and crime nor violence and drug trafficking can be separated that the solutions to those interrelated issues must include jobs for youth, community service opportunities, more relevant public education, conflict resolution training, parenting skills training, dispute mediation, and other approaches. The recommended first phase of the effort involves developing a mission and approach by recruiting groups already dealing with at-risk youth, drug, and violence issues and setting objectives for the effort. The second phase is to design strategies by selecting a politically neutral facilitator, asking each participant to develop an inhouse plan for its own actions, sponsoring town meetings, drafting an action plan, and having the task force and town meetings adopt the plan. The third phase entails addressing barriers to implementation through involving agency leaders, elected officials, and the public; having each agency head determine the costs of implementing each initiative, and identifying a well-known personality to help secure funding. These approaches will establish an ongoing interagency forum, action plan, and collaborative efforts. Map and sources of further information