Using qualitative data to inform public policy: evaluating "choose to de-fuse"

There are many preventive programs and interventions designed to address the complex problems of youth violence. However, research that examines the effectiveness of such programs is scarce. This article describes the evaluation of a media communications strategy, Choose to De-Fuse, developed for at-risk inner-city youth, and provides a case study of how qualitative data can be used to inform public policy.