NCJ Number
202731
Date Published
June 2002
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This fifth in a series of five "Action" booklets on the prevention of youth violence discusses how to sustain a collaboration and intervention, as well as the ways in which collaborations and the careful selection and implementation of appropriate programs contribute to their sustainability.
Abstract
The booklet initially advises that once established, a collaboration requires attention in order to maintain its place in the community. Likewise, the program needs attention to ensure that it is well managed and has adequate resources. It must be evaluated to determine whether it has been implemented as the developers intended and has achieved the outcomes desired. Advice for sustaining a collaboration are as follows: Take time at the beginning to build a strong collaboration; nurture relationships; encourage varying levels of participation; continue to add new members; solve problems; and celebrate successes. Advice for sustaining an intervention program is to build a high-quality program and plan a long-term "renewable resource" strategy. Regarding the building of a high-quality program, the booklet notes the importance of taking the time to refine services rather than rushing into program implementation before it is ready. Advice for planning a long-term "renewable resource" strategy is to empower partners and relevant others; promote the program externally and internally; involve key constituencies; select partners with known resources; and consider selling the program's products and services. The booklet concludes by noting that programs which maintain their commitment to their initial goals are more likely to be sustained than programs that drift away from their founding objectives; however, if a program achieves a one-time goal that does not require a sustained investment, then the program should be terminated or move on to another goal. 8 resources