MARCH 13-15, 2008 ADAM'S MARK HOTEL DENVER, COLORADO REGISTER NOW

Message from Del Elliott

It is a pleasure for me to invite you to join us in the historic city of Denver for the inaugural 2006 Blueprints Conference. You can expect three days of valuable information and discussion, including keynote addresses and breakout sessions that will explore model programs with positive results for troubled youths and their families. Keynote speakers that include myself and my fellow distinguished prevention science expert, Dr. David Hawkins; child advocate and former First Lady of Pennsylvania, Michele Ridge; Jennifer Atler, executive director of Invest in Kids; and Sonia Schoenwald, Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the Medial University of South Carolina.

With your choice of 32 topics offered in four scheduled breakout sessions, the Blueprints 2006 conference promises to provide coverage of the latest treatment models as well as networking opportunities over the three-day period. The goal of the conference is to disseminate science-based information on youth violence, delinquency, and drug prevention programs that are effective, to motivate the prevention field to adopt evidence-based programs, and to provide support, guidance, and tools by the program experts to help practitioners implement these programs successfully.

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 conference will provide one day pre-conferences for at least five of the Blueprints model programs. Some are designed for only for program members to provide technical assistance and support to participants from sites already implementing these programs while others are open to anyone interested in implementing such programs. The 1-1/2 day general conference will disseminate information on at least 20 evidence-based programs and provide workshops designed to improve planning strategies, enhance implementation, and ensure program sustainability.

I look forward to seeing you at this first-of-its-kind event that is certain to provide helpful tools and information that will help us all make a difference for youth in communities all over the country.

Sincerely,

Delbert Elliott