The Partners in Prevention of Substance Abuse program (PIPSA) trains interdisciplinary groups of University of Florida health science students about substance abuse and subsequently, places teams of these students in middle school classrooms for a "Day of Service" teaching about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and others drugs. The health science students' training uses large group instruction and small group interdisciplinary learning modules. In year one, two sets of cooperative group instructional materials (POPS) for use by interdisciplinary groups of 5 health professional students (e.g. Colleges of Nursing, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy and Health Profession)were piloted and revised. In year two, these POPS were field-tested with 630 professional students who then taught approximately 12,000 middle school students in north central Florida counties. To assist student teams going into middle school classrooms, a teaching kit, consisting of a trigger videotape with accompanying questions and classroom activities, was developed. Two sets of middle school level ATOD abuse prevention instructional material called Team Packs were developed and field-tested to assist classroom teachers. In year three, following the interdisciplinary training, 411 health science students taught approximately 15,000 middle school students in 152 classrooms located in 9 north central Florida counties. The middle school visits were scheduled during Red Ribbon Week. Of the 118 teachers responding to the "Fall 1999 Service Day Critique Form", 97% agreed or strongly agreed this was a very worth-while experience. (Supported by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida.)
Keywords: Alcohol, Smoking
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.