Intervening With High-Risk Youth: Preliminary Findings From the Children-at-Risk Program

Under National Institute of Justice sponsorship, the Urban Institute is conducting an outcome evaluation of the program's impact on school performance, family functioning, delinquent behavior, and drug abuse. Preliminary results based on the first year of program operation in four cities indicate that youth in the CAR program had fewer contacts with police and courts than controls and had higher school attendance rates and promotion to the next grade level. Results also evidenced greater declines in neighborhood crime among CAR residents in three of the four cities. The CAR approach to drug and delinquency prevention is described, and selection criteria for the CAR program are identified. Program services, including case management, education, law enforcement, and service integration, are discussed.