Although many lessons have been learnt in terms of responding to the immediate threat of another high school shooting, ways to prevent this ever happening have been left by the wayside, despite compelling evidence.

“It’s the difference between understanding evidence based practices and evidence-based programs. Both are important, but we don't yet know how the two fit together.” Professor Del Elliott looks forward to a synthesis of Blueprints-style “benchmarking” of initiatives and the improving meta-analysis of prevention strategies.

Despite a growing number of violence prevention programs that have been proven to work, the majority of schools in the US continue to invest in ineffective programs or oppressive security measures. Speaking in Birmingham, UK - the site of a $60m investment in evidence-based interventions for children - prevention expert Del Elliott reflects on the challenges faced by policy makers who go against the grain.

Ten years on from the Columbine high school massacre, there is a much better understanding of how teenagers end up violent and aggressive, and how to prevent this happening. Del Elliott, founder of Blueprints - a database of proven violence prevention programs - visits the UK this week to reflect on the good that has come out of such tragedy.

A comprehensive review of anti-bullying initiatives singles out a Norwegian program, based on firm theoretical foundations, for particular praise. Whether this theory can reach the same heights outside Scandinavia remains unclear.

Making sure young offenders get the right mental health services sounds like a winning formula. But even researchers promoting routine screening warn the drain on funding may be squeezing out prevention efforts in the community.