ERIC Number: EJ841350
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Sep
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0090-1482
EISSN: N/A
Taking School-Based Substance Abuse Prevention to Scale: District-Wide Implementation of Keep a Clear Mind
Jowers, Keri L.; Bradshaw, Catherine P.; Gately, Sherry
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, v51 n3 p73-91 Sep 2007
Public schools are under increased pressure to implement evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs. A number of model programs have been identified, but little research has examined the effectiveness of these programs when "brought to scale" or implemented district-wide. The current paper summarizes the application of the Adelman and Taylor's (1997) model for district-wide program implementation to the dissemination of an evidence-based parent-child drug education program called Keep A Clear Mind (KACM; Werch & Young, 1990). In addition to documenting the partnership process used to scale-up the program to a district-level, evaluation results are presented from 2,677 fifth graders in 43 schools who participated in the KACM program. Pre-post comparisons from two consecutive cohorts of students indicated a significant reduction in students' attitudes supporting alcohol use and a significant increase in parent/child communication about prevention, students' perceived ability to resist peer pressure, and their belief that it is "wrong" to use alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Focus groups conducted with a subset of the KACM teachers indicated great support for the KACM program, the partnership approach, and the dissemination model. Findings provide support for Adelman and Taylor's (1997) model as a framework for collaborative district-wide implementation of substance-abuse prevention programs.
Descriptors: Substance Abuse, Student Attitudes, Drug Education, Prevention, Focus Groups, Drinking, Measures (Individuals), Program Implementation, Grade 5, Peer Influence, School Districts, Public Schools, Partnerships in Education, Program Effectiveness, Social Attitudes, Parent Child Relationship, Interpersonal Communication, Resistance (Psychology), Smoking, Marijuana, Teacher Attitudes
American Alcohol and Drug Information Foundation. P.O. Box 10212, Lansing, MI 48901. Tel: 517-484-1770; Fax: 517-487-2474; e-mail: jadejournal@earthlink.net; Web site: http://www.jadejournal.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 5
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A