Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) was awarded a five-year high risk youth grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) to implement a community-based prevention model. The project titled the Collaborative Prevention Education Project (CPEP) focused on reducing multiple risk factors that contribute to early experimentation with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD), as well as violent behaviors among high risk African American youth. CPEP was administered/monitored at the local level by two community-based organizations under a contractual agreement with Morehouse School of Medicine.
The primary goal of CPEP was the prevention or reduction of ATOD use by high risk youth and of the problems associated with such use (including a reduction in episodes of violent acts) that interfere with the achievement, maintenance, and restoration of optimal health at the individual, family, school, peer group and community level. Over a five year period, CPEP served approximately 1000 African American students, ages 12 - 14 (60% males and 40% females) and their parents at both target sites.
Although CPEP did not achieve the statistical outcomes proposed in the original grant application, the lessons learned during implementation of this cultural-specific high risk youth program can significantly contribute to the field of prevention. However, some unexpected outcomes did demonstrate that an organized effort to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors can change negative behaviors among at risk youth and increase school and family bonding.
Learning Objectives: Increase understanding about challenges and benefits of implementing a community-based after school substance abuse prevention program through contractual agreements between an institution of higher learning and community-based organizations.
Keywords: Child/Adolescent, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Morehouse School of Medicine
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.