The information in this report is an indispensable resource for juvenile justice practitioners and others in the criminal justice profession. Communities will find this information extremely helpful as they identify specific risk and prevention factors while taking advantage of the community assessment tool available through the First Lady's Helping America's Youth Initiative.

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Information sharing initiatives are extremely complex, so agencies must constantly assess their organizational and technical capabilities. The toolkit can save time and money while providing a necessary and user-friendly guide for justice information sharing among agencies. In some cases, an agency could complete a mini- assessment of certain system components in as little as an afternoon.

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Families, communities and law enforcement must work together to stop the effects of underage drinking. These awards fund initiatives to assist youth in preventing alcohol and substance abuse by strong enforcement of laws and zero tolerance for those who provide alcohol to minors. In addition, prevention programs will assist youths and their families with developing alternatives to drinking.

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