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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
James P. Griffin, PhD1, James E. Springfield, MA2, Kelvin Walston2, and Melanie Sheffey2. (1) Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, 720 Westview Drive, S.W., Atlanta, GA 30310, (404) 752-1905, griffij@msm.edu, (2) Prevention Research Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, 777 Cleveland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30315
The BRAVE (Building Resiliency And Vocational Excellence) Program’s overarching goal is to facilitate young people’s successful compliance with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug- (ATOD-) and violence-free lifestyles. This vocationally-oriented prevention research initiative serves eighth grade African American (AA) adolescent males and females, ages 12-15, who attend a regular, public middle school. This universally-directed prevention program uses resiliency-grounded perspective, research-based curricula and a vocational context. Additionally the program incorporates with mentoring, peer support, and goal setting to facilitate the preventive aims of the project. The presentation includes a multimodal service delivery model that underscores a cognitive-behavioral emphasis. Participants include, but are not limited to, the following AA male and female adolescents: youths who have current, historical, or pending rule violations (e.g., school infractions or legal charges), youths originating from economically disadvantaged or female headed households, and youths in danger of facing academic probation or becoming dropouts. Other participants could be considered model students whose appropriate adaptive skills for navigating their community in accord with the aims of the initiative the program organizers seek to reinforce and augment. Consequently, the BRAVE Program operates on this premise:
Youths who cultivate appropriate adaptive skills through prosocial skill training for community settings, internalize social norms which equate manhood and womanhood with personal responsibility, develop potentially rewarding vocational careers, and attach themselves to positive, successful community role models, will be less likely to become involved with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and engage in violence.
The presentation examines lessons learned from implementation of the program to date and presents preliminary findings regarding the operation of the program.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Prevention
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Morehouse School of Medicine, Department of Community Health and Preventive 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.