ERIC Number: ED340545
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1991-Nov-13
Pages: 10
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
External Evaluation of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' OSAP High Risk Youth Demonstration Program.
Fortune, Jim C.; Williams, John
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians' OSAP High Risk Youth Demonstration Program seeks to prevent substance abuse through experiences offered in an after-school program. In 1990-91 the program served 710 students in grades K-8 in 7 of the reservation's 8 schools, each of which tailors the program to its own needs. Five components were common to all participating schools: tutoring on homework, drug education, recreation, snacks, and cultural activities. Offered 4 days per week, the program also served an after-school childcare function. An external evaluator reviewed program records pertaining to student participation, activities, personnel, and cost accounting; verified pretest-posttest evaluation data; and interviewed personnel and students during program site visits. Field notes from site visits revealed that three schools had programs that showed great success in implementation and operation, while the other four schools had effective programs that fell just short of the desired level of implementation. Program strengths included strong principals who supported staff during program development, energetic lead-teachers who coordinated efforts and met deadlines, and staff who enjoyed seeing students enjoy school. Problems at some schools included enrollments that were too large, high staff turnover, and too much concern by some staff over discipline and maintaining a clean school. Positive outcomes included very few cases of substance abuse among children, less gang activity, expressions of "good school attitudes," and community approval. (SV)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A