9 CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF PROMISING VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

To identify approaches to school based violence prevention that are mo st promising and those that may not be effective, a review of the lite rature was conducted. In addition, telephone interviews were conducted with 15 experts on topics related to school-based violence prevention Nine critical ingredients of promising approaches to violence prevent ion were identified. Specifically, the approaches are comprehensive an d multifaceted; begin in the primary grades and are reinforced across grade level; are developmentally tailored; and cover appropriate conte nt area. Appropriate content areas include information; anger-manageme nt; social perspective taking; decision making and social problem solv ing; peer negotiation and conflict management; social resistance skill s; active listening and effective communication; and material on preju dice, sexism, racism and male-female relationship. In addition, promis ing programs use interactive teaching techniques, are culturally sensi tive, and provide teacher training. They promote a positive school cli mate and foster norms against violence. Six violence prevention activi ties that appear nor to be effective are also discussed. The authors c onclude with a discussion of rite need for more rigorous evaluation of violence prevention programs.