Presents an overview of research about what works and does not work in social service programs, with a focus on practical strategies for building stronger communities across the United States. Community advocates get basic information about effective interventions aimed at achieving: (1) healthy families and children, with discussion of ways the principles of family support and the importance of parental education, early childhood development, including early childhood education and quality child care, and youth development, including mentoring, after-school programs, and ways to address risky behavior; (2) thriving neighborhoods, with emphasis on affordable housing, including affordable rental housing, homelessness prevention, and transitional housing, as well as strategies for making neighborhoods safe; (3) improved economic opportunities, with discussion of youth employment programs, preparing adults for living-wage jobs, and job-access and job-placement strategies; and (4) community-wide economic development, with discussion of downtown revitalization, new and small business development, micro-enterprise programs, rural economic development, and access to capital. When mobilized citizens, community advocates, and community-based organizations have both reliable information and dedicated leadership, they can proceed to devise a broad-based, comprehensive approach to address the interrelated problems facing their neighborhoods.
