WHEREAS, scientific research clearly shows that quality educational child care, parenting coaching and after-school programs can have a positive impact on the involvement of youth in crime; and

WHEREAS, after-school programs have proven to be capable of significantly reducing juvenile crime and juvenile victimization; and

WHEREAS, research shows that effective early childhood and youth development programs initiated today will result in dramitic cost savings tomorrow; and

WHEREAS, investment in these programs promise to substantially reduce the demands on federal and local governments in the future; and

WHEREAS, the nation must remain diligent on crime prevention and control efforts to ensure that past gains are maintained and that crime rates are further reduced, especially as they relate to youth violence and crime; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED THAT, the Florida Police Chiefs Association supports the FIGHT CRIME: INVEST IN KIDS School and Youth Violence Prevention Plan which encompasses the following goals:

• Provide all infants, toddlers and preschool children with quality educational child care at a price parents can afford.
  
  
• Reduce child abuse and neglect by offering all at-risk parents "parenting coaches" through proven home visiting programs, as well as accesss to community-based family resource centers.



• Help schools identify troubled and disruptive children at an early age, and provide children and their parents with the counseling and training that can help kids get back on track.



• Provide for school-age children and teen after-school programs and access to weekend and summer programs that offer recreation, academic support and community service experience.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this ^14th DAY OF JUNE, 2000, by the members of the Florida Police Chiefs Association in Ft. Myers, Florida.