Youth offending has no single cause and the young offender population is far from homogeneous. Successful programs are multi-faceted. Programs do not work when those who offer them do not believe in their efficacy. Successful programs can fail because of cynicism among those who implement and administer them. Lack of program fidelity is a common cause of failure.
Successful programs are often complex, a reflection of the complex causes of youth offending.
If they are not delivered as designed and those implementing them are not well trained, successful programs can fail. The following examples represent the types of promising programs being applied in Canada. They do not have a specific career focus, but go beyond simply finding jobs for at-risk or offending youth. These programs address skill training both in preparation for work and in job maintenance. Evaluation of the program over 2 years indicates that most students learn the strategies and apply them in various settings.