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Press ReleasesFIRST-OF-ITS-KIND NATIONAL CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON EFFECTIVE VIOLENCE AND DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIESBoulder, CO -- Hundreds of professionals are expected to attend a first-of-its-kind conference in Denver, Colorado to share ideas and gain insight into working with youth to prevent or reduce violence, delinquency, and drug use. The Blueprints Conference will be held at the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Denver, March 13-15, 2006, and is hosted by the Blueprints for Violence Prevention Initiative at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The conference will bring together representatives of "model" and "promising" programs from across the country to disseminate scientific information on effective youth violence, delinquency, and drug prevention and intervention programs. Program experts will provide support, guidance, and tools to help practitioners implement these evidence-based programs successfully in their own communities. Keynote speakers include Michele Ridge, former First Lady of Pennsylvania, an advocate in adopting evidence-based programs for children in Pennsylvania; Delbert Elliott, PhD, executive director of the CSPV at the University of Colorado, Boulder; David Hawkins, PhD, professor and founder of the Social Development Research Group at the University of Washington; Jennifer Atler, executive director of Invest in Kids; and Sonja Schoenwald, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Family Services Research Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. One-day pre-conferences for at least five of the Blueprints model programs will be offered and are designed to provide technical assistance and support to participants from sites already implementing these programs. Two model programs, Nurse-Family Partnership and Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care, will open their pre-conferences to anyone interested in learning more about their program. The 1-1/2 day general conference will disseminate information on 28 evidence-based programs, provide attendees an opportunity to hear from expert panels about community-based and school-based programs, as well as provide breakout sessions designed to improve planning strategies, enhance implementation, and ensure program sustainability. Expected speakers and participants include community prevention advocates, department heads of agencies responsible for violence and drug prevention efforts, state and local government leaders responsible for prevention funding and initiatives, leaders of the criminal justice systems, and program implementers. The conference is designed for those involved in, or interested in, any of the Blueprints model or promising programs as well as individuals interested in pursuing a career in child mental health services, anyone working in youth-serving systems, and child advocates. The registration fee for the conference is $200 per person before January 6. After January 6, the registration fee will increase to $250. The registration fee for the pre-conference sessions is $100 per person. The conference Web site, located at www.blueprintsconference.com, offers online registration, detailed information about sessions and speakers, and travel information. Sponsors for the conference include: the Blueprints for Violence Prevention Initiative, Functional Family Therapy, LifeSkills Training, Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care, Multisystemic Therapy, Nurse-Family Partnership, Bullying Prevention Program, Evidence-Based Associates, Channing Bete, Winkler Consulting Group, Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services and Trio Solutions Inc. With funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Blueprints for Violence Prevention at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) at the University of Colorado designed and launched a national violence prevention initiative in 1998 to identify and disseminate effective violence prevention programs nationwide. The project has identified 12 model prevention and intervention programs. Program effectiveness is based upon an initial review by CSPV and a final review and recommendation from a distinguished advisory board, comprised of seven experts in the field of violence prevention. The 12 model programs, called Blueprints, have been effective in reducing adolescent violent crime, aggression, delinquency, and substance abuse. Another 15 programs have been identified as promising. To date, more than 800 programs have been reviewed, and the Center continues to look for programs that meet selection criteria. # # #
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