kept track of participants in the Educare programs, through adolescence, and have shown that these intervention methods predict lower rates of violence and crime (Howell 58). Programs focused more on higher elementary ages up through early teen years are: Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, United Way, peer mentoring, after school recreation programs, and conflict resolution and violence prevention curriculums (Howell 62), (Daltry 23). These types of programs give youngsters positive male or female role models where they may be lacking them, and structured activities to keep them away from harmful influences and give them ways to focus their energy and frustrations in positive ways. Organizations such as these also give them social skills and teach them ways to deal with anger without resorting to violence, abilities which they often dont learn at home. The bonds which they can form from such peer mentoring programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, Lunch Buddies, etc., may also very well prevent them from joining gangs, or using drugs - some negative ways that many youths seek camaraderie and acceptance. Students consistently involved in these such programs, showed improvements in classroom and social function, and were at greatly reduced risk of becoming involved in gang or criminal activities compared to inner city students with the same risk factors who were not involved in these programs (Daltry 23). Some preventative programs for older youth that have been very successful are those that are funded under the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act of 1985 (Howell 104). Organizations such as the Job Corps, or Supported Work programs provide kids who are underprivileged with opportunities to find work that fits their interests where they otherwise might have turned to crime to earn money. Also, students who took part in these programs had much higher chances of succeeding in school. A study by a group of Washingt...
