The evaluation of three Communities That Care projects in the UK

Communities That Care (CTC) projects seek to improve community security by reducing the risk of young people becoming involved in problem behaviours. The evaluation of the first three projects established in England and Wales found that two of the projects were not implemented as intended. The one that was implemented showed indications of having had a positive impact on the factors associated with problem behaviour for children living in the CTC area, compared with children from the same schools who did not live in the area. The research raises important issues about the implementation of community-based programmes based on a risk factor model, and the lessons to be learned from initiatives that focus on preventing the development of problem behaviour by early intervention with children.