Choose a program only after defining the local problem
State the age group, setting, behavior or harm, period, protective factors, existing services, and evidence limitations. A program designed for one population or delivery setting may not transfer unchanged. Avoid labeling all young people in a neighborhood as high risk because of where they live.
Ask what change the program is expected to produce
Trace activities to outcomes
Write the logic in plain language: who participates, what they receive, how often, what skill or condition should change first, and which longer-term outcome that change may support. Distinguish participation counts from outcomes. Attendance shows reach, not whether harm decreased.
Review evidence and implementation together
- Was the program studied with a relevant population and setting?
- What comparison, follow-up, and outcome measures were used?
- What staff qualifications, supervision, dosage, and partnerships are required?
- Can the local organization deliver those elements consistently?
- What adaptations are allowed, and how will their effects be monitored?
- How are consent, confidentiality, referral, and participant safety handled?
CDC's prevention resources emphasize coordinated approaches and protective conditions rather than one isolated activity. The community violence prevention plan helps place a program within a broader portfolio.
Include youth voice without shifting adult responsibility
Young people can identify barriers, trusted adults, useful activities, harmful assumptions, and practical changes. Participation should be voluntary, supported, appropriately compensated where possible, and protected from public disclosure. Adults remain responsible for safeguarding, resources, and decisions.
Before launch, define implementation measures, outcomes, unintended effects, and a review point. Use the crime prevention program evaluation guide to report what changed, what did not, and what remains uncertain.