The National Forum Policy on Graduated Sites 

The National Forum’s federal partners can balance the goals of building a strong brand for the 

Forum, growing the network of localities working in youth violence prevention and distributing 

resources available to support these efforts by establishing a tiered structure that creates a 

development path for Forum sites as they advance in their work and demonstrate increased 

capacity and alignment with the sustainability framework. 

Developing the eight sustainability capacities and self-assessment tool is critical to successfully 

implementing the proposed Forum Graduated Site Plan. The sustainability self-assessment tool, 

once developed, will be released as a companion to the sustainability capacities. The tool will 

ensure that Forum sites have a tangible resource to begin applying the sustainability capacities to 

their work. It will allow users to benchmark their progress in building each of the sustainability 

capacities and provide guidance in using the tool both with site leaders and a broader planning 

group. The self-assessment tool will also link to existing resources that site leaders may draw on 

to support capacity-building efforts within each element. 

Level 1. Emerging 

Forum Sites 

Level 2. Engaged 

Forum Sites 

Level 3. Sustained 

Forum Sites 

Here are the three proposed tiers: 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Level 1. Emerging Forum Sites 

Cities with a demonstrated interest in joining a national movement that is working to prevent 

youth violence will be designated as Level 1, Emerging Forum Sites. As a result of this 

designation, the sites would receive 

•	 Access to training and technical assistance (TTA) opportunities for learning about 

various tools, strategies, and resources to ensure that the multidisciplinary collaborative is 

appropriately structured and staffed. 

•	 Specialized TTA resources for each of the sustainability capacities. 

•	 An assigned coach (either a consultant or federal staffer) to provide virtual support as the 

city begins developing sustainability strategies to link with the workplan. 

•	 An assigned mentor, so the city can benefit from the mentor’s advanced experience in 

this work. 

•	 Assistance to ensure the collaborative develops a sound local stakeholder engagement 

plan. 

•	 Strategic networking opportunities to connect with experienced Forum sites, to address 

challenges or barriers as the city advances into the implementation phase. 

•	 The opportunity to compete or apply for funding from the Forum partners. 

Cities interested in obtaining Level 1 status must be able to demonstrate the following: 

•	 The support and commitment from local leadership (mayor, police chief, educators, 

community residents, and other relevant partners) to elevate youth violence prevention as 

an issue of significance and willingness to engage in systems and policy changes to 

address youth violence. 

•	 Identification of a project director or coordinator to lead local efforts. 

•	 Ability to convene a multidisciplinary group of local partners from youth-serving 

organizations and related partners to serve as the site’s governance or planning team (or 

as both). 

•	 Sufficient contact with the local planning team to establish a coordinated youth violence 

prevention strategy. 

•	 Willingness to participate in Forum conferences, meetings, and training events. 

Level 2. Engaged Forum Sites 

Emerging Sites may advance to the Level 2, Engaged Forum Site status, after demonstrating 

evidence of competence in at least three sustainability capacities. Engaged Forum Sites will 

•	 Continue working with the assigned coach to monitor how the city is progressing with the 

deployment of its sustainability plan and to provide assistance as needed. 

•	 Access advanced TTA, including peer learning exchanges and peer mentoring 

opportunities.
 

•	 Access specialized TTA on each of the sustainability capacities. 

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•	 Participate in strategic networking opportunities with other Forum sites and aligned youth 

violence prevention initiatives. 

Forum Sites that obtain Level 2, Engaged Forum Site status, must be able to demonstrate 

•	 Evidence of site competence in at least three sustainability capacities. 

•	 Having a coordinated plan for youth violence prevention. 

•	 Having an established governance structure consisting of local leaders and relevant 

partners, including youth. 

•	 Having an established program director/coordinator to head local efforts. 

•	 Regular attendance at Forum networking events, peer learning exchanges, and other TTA 

activities. 

•	 Willingness to mentor Level 1 sites. 

Level 3. Sustained Forum Sites 

This designation recognizes sites that have successfully addressed at least six of the eight 

sustainability capacities and have documented positive outcomes in addressing youth violence 

(reductions in youth violence or demonstrated ability to address risk factors for example). 

Sustained Forum Sites will continue to participate in conference calls and national events to 

provide ongoing support to the network (and vice versa) as they continue their work. At this 

level, sites will receive 

•	 On-demand TTA from the technical assistance provider and participating Forum partners. 

•	 Access to specialized TTA on each of the sustainability capacities to ensure that youth 

violence prevention efforts are maintained over time. 

•	 Ability to claim the Level 3, Sustained Forum Site, designation in funding applications. 

•	 Strategic networking opportunities and peer learning exchanges with other Forum Sites, 

such as the annual Forum Summits, and aligned youth violence prevention initiatives. 

Forum sites that obtain Level 3, Sustained Forum Site status, will be required to 

•	 Maintain commitment from local leadership to elevate youth violence prevention efforts 

and promote systems and policy change to address youth violence. 

•	 Have a dedicated program director/coordinator to lead local youth violence prevention 

efforts. 

•	 Document positive outcomes in addressing youth violence. 

•	 Document ability to address at least six sustainability capacities. 

•	 Implement a coordinated youth violence prevention strategy that is updated on a regular 

basis (every 2 years at a minimum). 

•	 Routinely attend Forum networking events, peer learning exchanges, and other TTA 

activities. 

•	 Continue to mentor Emerging and Engaged Sites. 

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•	 Work through a multidisciplinary team of local partners serving as the governance 

structure that meets regularly (at least quarterly). 

The Process 

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will work with the Forum 

Coordination Team (FCT) to implement and oversee the Graduate Forum Site Policy. OJJDP 

staff and the FCT will assess inquiries from cities interested in joining the Forum as Level 1 sites 

annually. 

Forum sites at all levels will be assessed annually by OJJDP and the FCT to determine their 

capacity to move to subsequent tiers. Criteria for moving to the next tier are outlined above. 

Specialized TTA resources will be made available to sites that experience difficulties moving on 

to the next tier. 

A Web-based list of Forum sites at all three levels will be maintained by OJJDP and the FCT. 

Sites that are denied at Level 1, Emerging Forum Site status, or Level 3, Sustained Forum Site, 

status will be notified with a formal letter outlining the rationale for the decision. OJJDP and the 

FCT will maintain files on Level 3 sites regarding compliance with the above requirements. 

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