About the Blueprints Conference

THE GOAL:
The goal of the conference is to disseminate science-based information on youth violence, delinquency, and drug prevention programs that are effective. This conference will motivate the prevention field to adopt evidence-based programs and provide support, guidance, and tools by program experts to help practitioners implement these programs successfully in their own communities.

THE PURPOSE:
The purpose of bringing evidence-based programs together in one location is to provide a first-class conference that offers continuing education and networking opportunities for model and promising evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for youth and their families. This conference sets a foundation for future collaboration among evidence-based programs.

TARGET AUDIENCE:
Participants will include community prevention advocates, department heads of agencies responsible for violence and drug prevention efforts, state and local government leaders responsible for prevention funding and initiatives, leaders of the criminal justice systems, and program implementers.

The following individuals should consider attending:

• Individuals involved in or interested in any of the Blueprints model programs
• Individuals involved in or interested in any of the Blueprints promising programs
• Individuals interested in pursuing a career in child mental health services
• Child advocates including (but not limited to):
  • legislators
  • judges
  • probation officers
  • principals and other school officials
  • social services employees
  • community-at-large members (faith, recreation, victim, etc.)
  • mental health/substance abuse employees

About Blueprints for Violence Prevention

In 1996, the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV), at the University of Colorado at Boulder, with startup funding from the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, designed and launched a national violence prevention initiative to identify violence prevention programs that are effective. The project, called Blueprints for Violence Prevention Initiative, funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention since 1998, has identified 11 prevention and intervention programs. Program effectiveness is based upon an initial review by CSPV and a final review and recommendation from a distinguished advisory board, comprised of eight experts in the field of violence prevention. The 11 model programs, called Blueprints, have been effective in reducing adolescent violent crime, aggression, delinquency, and substance abuse. Another 17 programs have been identified as promising. To date, more than 700 programs have been reviewed, and the Center continues to look for programs which meet selection criteria.

The Blueprints model programs are:

• Midwestern Prevention Project (MPP)
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS)
• Functional-Family Therapy (FFT)
• Life Skills Training (LST)
• Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
• Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP)
• Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC)
• Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP)
• Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies (PATHS)
• The Incredible Years: Parent, Teacher and Child Training Series (IYS)
• Project Towards No Drug Abuse (Project TND)

The Blueprints promising programs are:

• Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS)
• Behavioral Monitoring and Reinforcement Program
• Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students (BASICS)
• Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT)
• CASASTART
• FAST Track
• Good Behavior Game (GBG)
• Guiding Good Choices (GGC)
• I Can Problem Solve (ICPS)
• Linking the Interests of Families and Teachers (LIFT)
• Perry School Project
• Preventative Treatment Program (PTP)
• Project ALERT
• Project Northland
• Seattle Social Development Project
• Strengthening Families Program For Parents and Youth 10-14
• Strong African American Families (SAAF)

For more information about Blueprints for Violence Prevention, please contact Sharon Mihalic at 303-492-1032 or via email at sharon.mihalic@colorado.edu.