byLaura Garcia, BA, LCDC
Adelaida F. Hernández, MA, LCDC
A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills
What is Indicated Prevention?
Three Types of Prevention Programs
●-----------------●------------------●Universal
Serve Everyone
in Population
IndicatedServe High
Risk Individuals
Selective Serve High
Risk Groups
LOW RISK HIGH RISK
Potential high school dropouts are a known group of high-risk youth.
What is RY?
RY is an “Indicated”Prevention Program for
HIGH RISK STUDENTS
Who evidence risk factors in four critical areas:
*School *Peers*Personal *Family
RY Program Strategies
RY Prevention ProgramStrategies Address the Risk Factors
In each of the four key areas:
*School *Peers*Personal *Family
School Risk Factors
● Negative view of school experience
● Norms of skipping and ATOD use at school
● Poor teacher-student relationships
● Low access to help
● Non-participation in school activities
Individual Risk Factors
● Impulsive decision-making; weak coping skills
● Low self-worth; deviant self-image
● Uncontrolled emotions; 30-40% screen in at suicide risk
● Poor interpersonal and social skills
Peer Risk Factors
● Peer group network engaged in deviant behaviors
● Peer skip and use drugs
● Peers lack personal goals related to school achievement, attendance
● Teen is susceptible to negative peer influences
Family Risk Factors
● Family distress; serious conflicts
● Poor family/school connections
● Unclear/unfair rules; Coercive parenting
● Parental drug use/abuse; unconventional drug use norms
School System Strategies
1. Setting Norms for: attendance, achievement, drug use at school and mood management
2. Establishing an adult and peer network of support for all
3. Fostering school bonding and engagement in school activities
Family Strategies
1. Getting active parental consent for student’s enrollment in RY class
2. Parent support for RY goals
3. Enhancing RY teacher/parent communication
4. Sending home positive messages about RY student
Individual Strategies
1.Skills Training * setting goals, decision-making
* giving and receiving feedback* interpersonal skills
2.Self-monitoring* school attendance, grades
* moods and drug use
3.School Engagement* safe and drug-free social activities* engaging in school activities
Peer Group Strategies
1. Norm setting in RY class to commit to the program goals
2. A positive peer group; giving each other support and help
3. Group belonging in RY class
RY Students
A search of the school’s roster using the researched criteria below will create a list of at risk students.
Find students who:
► are behind in credits for grade level► are in the top 25%-ile for absences &► have a GPA <2.3, or a precipitous drop in grades, OR…► have a prior drop-out status, or► are referred by school personnel & meet one or more of the first three criteria
RY Students are…
Invited, NOT assigned
Richly diverse group☼ males & females☼ grades 9-12☼ different social groups☼ varying maturity levels ☼ varying “disconnected” levels
The RY Class
1. Meets daily- or on a block schedule ► for a full semester ► as part of the high school curriculum ► is taken for credit and graded
2. Taught by an RY Co. trained teacher who excels in working with high-risk youth
3. Is limited to a 10-12 student class size
4. Focuses on skills training within the context of adult and peer support
RY Program Goals
1. Increased school performance
2. Decrease drug involvement
3. Decrease suicide risk behaviors
RY Components & Outcomes
Program Components Mediators Outcomes
IncreasedPersonal
CompetenciesAnd
IncreasedSocial Support
Resources
RY Leader Support
Peer Group Support
RY Skills Training
Monitoring
School Bonding & Healthy
Social Activities
Increased School Performance
Decreased Drug Involvement
Decreased Suicide Risk
Behavior
RY Curriculum Units
1.Getting Started-First 10 Days
2. Self-Esteem Enhancement
3. Decision Making
4.Personal Control
5. Interpersonal Communication
Program Goal 1:To Increase School Performance
Demonstrated results for RY include:
● 18% in GPA in all classes (6% for controls)
● 7.5 % in number of credits earned (24% for controls)
● Absences curbed (increased for controls)
● 14% lower dropout rate vs. controls
● RY Leader support influenced increases, whereas peer
group support had no effect
Program Goal 2:To Decrease Drug Involvement
Demonstrated results for RY include:
● 7% in drug involvement (14% for controls)
● 50 % in hard drug use (45% for controls)
● 48% in drug use control problems & neg.
consequences (3% for controls)
● Curbed progression of alcohol & other drug use
● RY Leader support influenced decreased drug
involvement
Program Goal 3:To Decrease Suicide Risk Behaviors
Demonstrated results for RY include:
● 80% in suicidal behaviors (80% for control group
who got same crisis help/support)
● 75 % in depression & hopelessness (24% for
controls)
● 48% in anger control problems (3% for controls)
● 38% perceived stress (10% for controls)
● RY Leader & peer group support influenced the above
decreases by enhancing the youth’s sense of personal control
Reconnecting YouthAward-Winning Program
● SAMHSA awarded RY “Model Program” status
for drug abuse prevention. ● The SRC named RY a “promising program” for preventing youth suicidal behaviors and many related risks.
● DOE, the White House, NIDA, NIMH, Prevention Strategies and others have recognized RY as one of the U. S.’s top 10 research-based prevention efforts with proven success.
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