We agree with many of the law enforcement and academic community that the best kind of intervention programs are character education programs, law-related education classes, counseling geared toward conflict resolution, staff development for teachers in identifying and dealing with troubled youth, peer helper programs, home visitor programs for at risk families, and required programs for parents and children who commit major offenses in school. We need to encourage all schools to stay open late and to offer after-school opportunities such as sports, band, etc. We endorse this proposal and encourage all schools to adopt this fresh approach to education. Quality after-school programs have strong leaders, skilled and qualified staff, and effective managers. Also, families of children in the program are informed of their child' s activities and given opportunities to volunteer in their child's program.
Programs set goals and use well-planned, continuous evaluations to judge themselves.
Charitable and community initiatives should assist youth and adults who have regular contact with youth in identifying troubled and potentially violent juveniles. When elementary school children display disruptive behavior, it is a warning signal that it is time to start looking for the causes of the problem, and to provide the proven social skills training, counseling, and other help for the children and their families that can lead them back to healthier path. Research suggests that by exposing children to certain risk factors, communities create an environment conducive to violence, regardless of whether they are urban or rural, white or black, rich or poor. Among the 19 identified risk factors are exposure to violence in the media, easy availability of drugs and alcohol, community attitudes favorable to deviant behavior, family conflict and family management problems. While exposure to any or all of the factors does not mean a child will necessarily turn to violence, their presence increases the likelihood.