Author: Tom
What Criteria Does Blueprints Use in Selecting Programs?
Blueprints considers four criteria:
- Evaluation quality—Can we be confident in a program’s evaluation
- Intervention impact—How much positive change in key developmental outcomes can be attributed to the intervention
- Intervention specificity—Is the intervention focused, practical, and logical
- Dissemination readiness—Does the program have the necessary support and information to be successfully implemented
Blueprints programs must meet all four criteria. See our Program Criteria page for a more detailed description.
What Is the Difference Between a Promising and Model Program?
Both promising and model programs meet basic Blueprints standards, but model programs meet additional requirements. Promising programs must have evidence from one high-quality experimental or two high-quality quasi-experimental designs, clear findings of positive impact, carefully defined goals, and sufficient resources to help users. Model programs must have evidence from two high-quality experimental or one experimental and one quasi-experimental design of high quality, and in addition to the above criteria (positive impact, defined goals, dissemination capacity), have a sustained impact at least 12 months after the intervention ends. Model programs which have conducted a high-quality “independent” replication have been labeled as Model Plus. Model and Model-Plus programs are deemed ready for widespread use.
What kind of youth programs does Blueprints examine?
Blueprints began with a focus on youth programs to prevent violence, delinquency, and drug use, but it has recently expanded its scope. It now also recommends programs to improve mental and physical health, self-regulation, and educational achievement outcomes. The outcomes of interest involve more than preventing harmful behavior — they also involve positive behaviors and healthy development.
What is Blueprints?
Blueprints is a project at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado Boulder. It identifies, recommends, and disseminates programs for youth that, based on scientific evaluations, have strong evidence of effectiveness. Blueprints serves as a resource for governmental agencies, schools, foundations, and community organizations trying to make informed decisions about their investments in youth programs. Its ultimate goal is to reduce antisocial behavior and promote a healthy course of youth development.
Announcing Launch of Straight Talk on Evidence Website
In an effort to improve access to credible social program evaluation research, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation is launching a new website called “Straight Talk on Evidence.” The new website aims to clarify often exaggerated evaluation study results for policy and program officials, researchers, journalists, and philanthropic funders to aid in decision making and improve the quality of distributed information. This important work seeks to instill in the evaluation research community a greater sense of accountability, in addition to providing further support for high quality research with genuinely reported results.
Whole Number Foundations Level K
Positive Prevention PLUS
Laws Promoting Evidence-Based Practice: Experiences from Three States
A brief from the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative highlights legal strategies employed by three states — Washington, Oregon, and Tennessee — to increase the use of evidence-based programs and practices. Though the laws and the policy domains they affect are diverse, the insights gained from these experiences converge to provide valuable considerations for future evidence-based policymaking.
Issue No. 2
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