Several violence prevention projects are described and critiqued. One particular pilot program conducted with 20 Hispanic youth is reviewed. Evaluation of this after-school program emphasizing violence prevention, vocational training, and peer education revealed that students acquired job readiness skills and self-confidence in making presentations before groups. However, the value of violence prevention training was minimal. We introduce the role of reflexive evaluation to question the underlying assumptions of intervention programs. Specific assumptions of this and of previous programs are identified and critically assessed to foster a dialogue that will modify present practices and generate new ideas for future intervention programs.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Van AckerRichardTalbottElizabeth. 1999. “The School Context and Risk for Aggression: Implications for School-based Prevention and Intervention Efforts.”Preventing School Failure44:12–20.
2.
American Psychological Association Commission on Violence and Youth.1993. “Violence and Youth: Psychology's Response (Vol. I),” (Summary Report). Washington, DC: APA.
3.
AndersonElijah. 1999. Code of the Streets: Decency, Violence and the Moral Life of the Inner City.New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
4.
APS Observer.1997. “A Human Capital Initiative Report—Reducing Violence: A Research Agenda.”Washington, DC: American Psychological Society.
5.
BanduraAlbert, 1986. Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
6.
BosworthKrisEspelageDorothyDuBayTracy. 1996. “Using Multimedia to Teach Conflict-resolution Skills to Young Adolescents.”American Journal of Preventive Medicine12 (5, supplement): 65–74.
7.
BourgoisPhilippe. 1995. In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Borrio.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
8.
ConoleyJane CloseGoldsteinArnold P.1997. “The Known, Unknown, and Future of Violence Reduction.” Pp. 493–495 in School Violence Intervention: A Practical Handbook, edited by GoldsteinA. P.ConoleyJ. C.. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
9.
DusenburyLindaFalcoMatheaLakeAntoniaBranniganRosalindBosworthKris. 1997. “Nine Critical Elements of Promising Violence Prevention Programs.”Journal of School Health67:409–414.
10.
EmbryDennis D.FlanneryDaniel J.VazsonyiAlexander T.PowellKenneth E.AthaHenry. 1996. “PeaceBuilders: A Theoretically Driven, School-based Model for Early Violence Prevention.”American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Supplement: Youth Violence Prevention: Descriptions and Baseline Data from 13 Evaluation Projects)12 (5): 91–100.
11.
EronLeonard D.1987. “The Development of Aggressive Behavior from the Perspective of Developing Behaviorism.”American Psychologist42:435–442.
12.
FarrellAlbert D.MeyerAleta. 1997. “The Effectiveness of a School-based Curriculum for Reducing Violence Among Urban Sixth-grade Students.”American Journal of Public Health87:979–985.
13.
FiesterLeilaNathansonSara P.VisserLauraMartinJane. 1996. “Lessons Learned from Three Violence Prevention Projects.”Journal of School Health66:344–346.
14.
GuerraN. G.AttarB.WeissbergR. P.1997. “Prevention of Aggression and Violence Among Inner-city Youths.” Pp. 375–383 in Handbook of Antisocial Behavior, edited by StoffD. M.BreilingJ.MaserJ. D.. New York, NY: Wiley.
15.
GuerraN. G.TolanP. H.HammondW. R.1994. “Prevention and Treatment of Adolescent Violence.” Pp. 383–403 in A Reason to Hope: A Psychosocial Perspective on Violence and Youth, edited by EronL. D.GentryJ. H.SchegelP.. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
16.
HamptonRobert L.YungBetty R.1996. “Violence in Communities of Color: Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We Need to be.” Pp. 53–86 in Preventing Violence in America, edited by HamptonR. L.JenkinsP.GullottaT. P.. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
17.
HausmanAlicePierceGlennBriggsLebaron. 1996. “Evaluation of Comprehensive Violence Prevention Education: Effects on Student Behavior.”Journal of Adolescent Health, 19: 104–110.
18.
HausmanAlice J.SpivakHowardProthrow-StithDeborah. 1995. “Evaluation of a Community-based Youth Violence Prevention Project.”Journal of Adolescent Health17:353–359.
19.
HaynieDenise L.AlexanderCherylWaltersSusan R.1997. “Considering a Decision-making Approach to Youth Violence Prevention Programs.”Journal of School Health67:165–170.
20.
HessDiana. 1997. “Violence Prevention and Service Learning.”Social Education6:279–281.
JacquelineJones. 1993. “Southern Diaspara: Origins of the Northern ‘Underclass.’” In The “Underclass” Debate, edited by KatzM. B.. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
23.
LapidusGarryMaryBraddock. 1996. “Education and Training in Violence Prevention: A Public Health Model.” Pp. 179–195 in Preventing Violence in America: Issues in Children's and Families' Lives (Vol. 4), edited by HamptonR. L.JenkinsP.GullottaT. P.. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
24.
LeeMatthew R.2000. “Concentrated Poverty, Race, and Homicide.”The Sociological Quarterly41:189–206.
25.
MercyJames A.1993. “Youth Violence as a Public Health Problem.”SpectrumSummer: 26–30.
26.
PowellKenneth E.DahlbergLinda L.FridayJennifer. 1996. “Prevention of Youth Violence: Rationale and Characteristics of 15 Evaluation Projects.”American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Supplement: Youth Violence Prevention: Descriptions and Baseline Data from 13 Evaluation Projects)12(5):3–12.
27.
RamirezAmelie G.GallionKipling J.1996. “Developing a Media- and School-based Program for Substance Abuse Prevention Among Hispanic Youth.”Health Education and Behavior24:603–612.
28.
RosenbergMark L.1995. “Violence in America: An Integrated Approach to Understanding and Prevention.”Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved7: 102–112.
29.
RossiPeter H., 1987. “The Iron Law of Evaluation and Other Metallic Rules.”Research in Social Problems and Public Policy4: 3–20.
30.
SheleyJoseph F.WrightJames D.1995. In the Line of Fire: Youth, Guns, and Violence in Urban America.New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
31.
TolanPatrick H.GuerraNancy G.1996. “Progress and Prospects in Youth Violence-prevention Evaluation.”American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Supplement: Youth Violence Prevention: Descriptions and Baseline Data from 13 Evaluation Projects)12(5):129–131.
