OJJDP continually seeks new programs to include in the Model Programs Guide (MPG). We are pleased to review research findings on potential new programs.  The following information below provides information on the nomination process, including: program eligibility, minimum evidence requirements, the review process, and submission instructions.  

Program Eligibility

All programs must focus on a youth population. A youth population is defined as anyone under the age of 18. A program is eligible if it serves both youth and adults.

Programs must also focus on youth who exhibit or are at-risk for one or more of the following problems:

• Academic Problems
• Aggression/Violence
• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use
• Delinquency
• Family Dysfunction
• Gang Activity
• Sexual Activity/Commercial Sexual Exploitation
• Children Exposed to Violence/Trauma Exposure

Eligible programs may address these problem behaviors at any point along the continuum of youth services -- from prevention and intervention through residential care to reentry.

Minimum Evidence Requirements

• The program must be evaluated with at least a quasi-experimental research design (with a comparison condition). Non-experimental, simple one-group pre/posttest designs with no comparison group, and case study designs are excluded.
• The program evaluation must demonstrate one or more positive outcomes.
• The program evaluation results must be published in a peer-reviewed publication or documented in a comprehensive evaluation report.
• The program evaluation must document the program implementation (i.e., the fidelity of the program).

An application submitted online will receive an email notification acknowledging the receipt of the submission within 48 hours after receiving all the required materials. An application submitted via mail will receive an email notification acknowledging the receipt of the submission within 30 days of receiving the required materials. The person submitting the nomination will receive the notification. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis in order to keep the MPG program directory as current as possible. A triage system segregates programs into three categories based on their potential for inclusion as follows:

• Category 1 includes those programs that do not meet the prima facie evidence standard to warrant inclusion in the program directory. In order to establish prima facie evidence, a program must at least meet the minimum requirements. The programs in this category will be notified by the administrative staff that there is not enough evidence to support including it in the program directory.
• Category 2 programs minimally meet the prima facie evidence for inclusion. The programs in this category will be initially reviewed internally by a set of Ph.D.-level reviewers from DSG to validate the prima facie evidence. If the evidence is validated by the internal reviewers, a review package is assembled and sent to the external peer review panel.
• Category 3 programs clearly meet the minimum requirements. A review package is assembled and sent to the external review panel. The peer review process includes a two-person review panel consisting of subject matter experts.

Submissions are reviewed and scored along several dimensions, most importantly:

• The degree to which the program is based on a clear, well-articulated conceptual framework.
• The degree to which the program was implemented as designed.
• The ability of the research design to establish a causal association between the treatment and outcome.
• The degree to which the evaluation findings support the program treatment.

The entire review process typically takes several months.

Nomination Instructions

Follow the steps below to submit a program nomination:

Step 1. Fill out the MPG program nomination form. Please be sure to specify the title of the program.

Step 2. Mail or email the nomination form and all relevant peer-reviewed publications, evaluation reports, and any other documentation (e.g., manuals, process guides, tools, training materials) that describes the details of the program to Stephen Gies at the address below. Include the program title as the subject.

If you have any issues concerning your submission, please contact:
Dr. Stephen Gies
Deputy Project Director
OJJDP Model Programs Guide
Development Services Group, Inc.
7315 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 800East
Bethesda, MD20814
sgies@dsgonline.com