The purpose of this two-phase, 2-year project was to reduce the risk that youth, ages 8-16, living in a mid-west inner-city public housing complex will engage in substance abuse or be either victims or perpetrators of violence. Over the 2-year phase I, youth, ages 10-16, were introduced to programming designed to (1) facilitate the development of knowledge, attitudes, and skills associated with substance abuse and needed to handle life situations in non-violent ways; (2) facilitate the development of protective factors and skills needed to handle life situations in a resilient manner; and (3) provide youth with the opportunity to practice these newly learned skills in a "real life" setting. Participating youth took part in after-school youth clubs at which the resilient youth curriculum, violence prevention curriculum, and substance abuse curriculum were implemented. At the completion of the curricula, youth engaged in a series of community service activities that were designed to apply newly acquired skills. Phase I used a single group repeated measures research design (pretest, posttest-year 1, posttest-year 2). Phase II used a single-group design using a test/retest survey method. Qualitative data were collected at the end of both phases. Results indicated (1) youth, ages 10-16, experienced a significant increase in social bonding with family during phase I; and (2) youth, ages 8-10, experienced a significant increase in positive outlook, cooperation, and pro social norms during phase II.
Learning Objectives: 1. Apply a resilience-building approach as a means of preventing violence and substance abuse in youth, ages 8-16, living in an urban public housing environment. 2. Compare and contrast a resilience-building approach to traditional risk-based interventions. 3. Explain the advantagous of implementing a resilience-building approach as a means of preventing negative health behaviors
Keywords: Violence Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.