Examines the Blueprints for Violence Prevention initiative, developed by the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, with an emphasis on successful program implementation. The article covers (1) the criteria for quality program implementation, including securing funds and resources, serving the target population, establishing links with other organizations, completing core and critical program elements, and providing the recommended program duration; (2) the importance of thorough site assessments to identify potential problems; (3) key organizational features necessary to achieve quality program implementation, including administrative support, agency stability and interagency links, motivated staff with the requisite skills, experiences, and credentials, and adequate time to train program implementers; (4) the role of the program champion; the necessity of aligning prevention programs with funding-agencies’ goals; training and technical assistance; and (5) implementation fidelity, which involves determining how well the program is being implemented in comparison to the original design. Lessons learned from the Blueprints initiative include the importance of building an environment supportive of the new programs, building organizational capacity through administrative support, and including staff in planning and decision-making. Creating an environment that fosters a positive experience will yield both higher quality implementation and more positive outcomes for youth.
