The following are some of the common elements among criteria used by federal agencies to review and identify effective drug and violence prevention programs.

Quality of Program Design

• Program goals and objectives are clear and appropriate for the target population.

• Program content and methods address the needs of and effectively engage the target population.

• The program's underlying rationale is well-articulated, and its content and methods are aligned with its goals.

• The program is a complete intervention, rather than a single component (e.g., a video, an assembly, a book in the library).

Quality of Research Design

• Program evaluation includes pre- and post-testing with a control or comparison group.

• Program evaluation includes relevant, reliable, valid, and appropriately administered outcome measures.

• Data analysis was technically adequate and appropriate.

• Evaluation studies had low rates of participant attrition.

Evidence of Program Efficacy

• The intervention produced positive change in scientifically established risk and protective factors.

• The intervention reduced or delayed the onset, prevalence, and/or individual rates of risk behaviors.

• Follow-up measurement provides evidence of sustained program impact.

Capacity for Replication and Dissemination

• The program includes high-quality program materials (e.g., manuals), training, and technical assistance.

• The program includes tools and procedures to monitor the fidelity of implementation and evaluate program outcomes.

• The program has been replicated and produced similar positive results, and these replications have been documented.

• Evaluation findings have been published or accepted for publication by a peer- reviewed journal.