Programs funded by Federal agencies often aim to ameliorate conditions that place communities at risk for crime and violence. Federally sponsored and community-based initiatives include: (1) Department of Justice--community policing, Project PACT (Pulling America's Communities Together), Operation Weed and Seed, the Comprehensive Communities Program, and SafeFutures; (2) Department of Housing and Urban Development--the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Program, Family Investment Centers, and the Public Housing Drug Elimination Program; (3) Department of Health and Human Services--the Community Partnership Demonstration Program, community demonstration grants, the Family Preservation and Support Program, the Youth Gang Drug Prevention Program, and the Community-Based Family Resource Program; (4) Department of Education--the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program and the Community Schools Youth Services and Supervision Grant Program; (5) Department of Labor--the Youth Fair Chance Program and the Job Corps Program; and (6) Corporation for National Service--AmeriCorps, National Civilian Community Corps, and the AmeriCorps VISTA Program. Other Federal support roles are noted, such as encouraging community involvement, providing technical assistance, and conducting research and evaluation. Continuing challenges for Federal involvement in crime and violence prevention are addressed, with emphasis on the need for policy planners to work at various jurisdictional levels. 2 notes and 2 photographs