[Mobilizing community around the lack of preventive measures against crime among 10- and 11-year-old children].

Originality and relevance are not the only factors in the success of innovative programs. Community consensus, expertise and credibility of staff, and evaluative approaches are important as well. Virgule ("Comma"), a program aimed at helping 10- and 11-year-olds who are first offenders, has these characteristics. The temporary hitch in the youth's life is viewed not as a definitive failure but as an opportunity for change. This is Virgule's philosophy: "Changing a period into a comma means changing a difficulty into a reason for progress."