This risk-focused prevention strategy underscores the idea that to prevent a problem from occurring, the factors that contribute to the development of the problem must be identified and addressed. The Community Prevention Grants Program is the only Federal funding source dedicated solely to delinquency prevention. To date, results are promising. Communities across the country have received Title V grants to create programs and services that strengthen families and help children develop into law-abiding, productive members of society. Each State, the District of Columbia, and five territories are currently eligible to apply for Community Prevention Grant funds.
Communities vary in the extent to which their delinquency prevention efforts have progressed.
Many are just beginning to initiate prevention strategies, whereas others have been implementing their programs for 2 or 3 years and have demonstrated early evidence of positive changes. One of the strengths of the Community Prevention Grants Program is the requirement that each community receiving a grant appoint a prevention policy board that includes representatives from law enforcement, juvenile justice, education, recreation, social services, private industry, health and mental health agencies, churches, civic organizations, and other youth and family service organizations. As a result, police officers, family court judges, and probation officers are sitting down at the same table with teachers, social workers, clergy, recreation specialists, child advocates, other professionals, parents, and youth to discuss the needs of children and their families and to develop and implement prevention plans to address these needs. In some cases, the prevention policy board planning effort is the first time these various groups have worked together to find common ground and collaborative solutions to prevent delinquency. Many communities contribute more than 90 percent of the cost of the program.