National Evaluation of the Safe Kids/Safe Streets Program: Final Report Volume I: Cross-Site Findings

• NCJ Number: 210270
• Author(s): Frances Gragg; Roberta Cronin; Dana Schultz; Karla Eisen
• Date Published: December 2004
• Length: 224 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-MU-MU-0005
• Agencies: OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

This final report presents cross-site findings from a national evaluation of the Safe Kids/Safe Streets program, examining the planning and implementation at the SK/SS sites.

Abstract

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), the Safe Kids/Safe Streets (SK/SS) program, which began in 1997, is designed to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect and the development of juvenile delinquency by funding community collaboratives. Five localities within five States implemented the SK/SS program: Alabama, Missouri, Ohio, Vermont, and Michigan. A four-volume final report describes the results of a national evaluation of SK/SS conducted by Westat. This report, volume I in the four-volume report, summarizes cross-site findings from multiple sources, including twice-yearly site visits, review of project documentation, three stakeholder surveys, a survey of agency personnel, and two structured surveys of key informants. Each of the sites successfully developed comprehensive community collaboratives to promote a system reform agenda. They broadened the community’s concept of the child protection system to encompass partners well beyond traditional boundaries. Recommendations are presented for sponsors, technical assistance, for developing a learning community, and for evaluating comprehensive initiatives. To further define new roles and approaches, more experience is needed from programs in operation now and those funded in the future. Tables and appendixes A-C