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Leona L. Eggert and Liela J. Nicholas, Developers

A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills. Leona L. Eggert and Liela J. Nicholas, Developers. Reconnecting. Youth. A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills. Leona L. Eggert and Liela J. Nicholas, Developers.

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Leona L. Eggert and Liela J. Nicholas, Developers

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  1. A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills Leona L. Eggert and Liela J. Nicholas, Developers Reconnecting Youth A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills Leona L. Eggert and Liela J. Nicholas, Developers Funded by the National Institutes of Health: NIDA, NIMHand the Dept. of Education, Safe & Drug Free Schools  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  2. What is Indicated Prevention? Three Types of Prevention Programs: Universal ServeEveryone inPopulation Selective ServeHigh Risk Groups Indicated ServeHigh Risk Individuals Indicated Target:High-Risk Individuals Low Risk High Risk Potential high school dropouts are a known group of high-risk youth  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  3. What is RY? RY is an‘Indicated’prevention program for ‘high risk students,’whoevidence risk factors in four critical areas: School Peers Personal Family  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  4. RY Program Strategies RY prevention program strategies address the risk factors in each of the four key areas: School Peers Personal Family  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  5. 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 • Fostering school bonding and • engagement in school activities  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  6. Personal 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  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  7. Peer Group Strategies • 1. Norm setting in RY class to commit to the program goals • A positive peer group; • giving each other • support and help 3. Group belonging in RY class  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  8. Family Strategies 1. Getting active parentalconsent for student’senrollment in RY class 2. Parent support of RY goals 3. Enhancing RY teacher/parent communication 4. Sending home positive messages about RYstudent  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  9. RY Program Goals 1. Increase school performance 2. Decrease drug involvement 3. Decrease suicide risk behaviors  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  10. 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  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  11. RY Curriculum Units 1. Getting Started ― First 10 Days 2. Self-Esteem Enhancement 3. Decision Making 4. Personal Control 5. Interpersonal Communication  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  12. 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 25th %-ile for absences & • have a GPA < 2.3 or a precipitous drop in grades, OR ... • have a prior dropout status, or • are referred by school personnel & meet 1 or more of the first three criteria  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  13. Increased SchoolPerformance Decreased Drug Involvement Decreased Suicide RiskBehaviors RY Components & Outcomes Program Components Mediators Outcomes RY Leader Support Peer Group Support RY Teacher Support IncreasedPersonalCompetencies and RY Skills Training Monitoring IncreasedSocial SupportResources School Bonding & Healthy Social Activities  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  14. Program Goal 1: To Increase School Performance O U T C O M E S 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  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  15. Program Goal 2: To Decrease Drug Involvement O U T C O M E S 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  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  16. Program Goal 3: To Decrease Suicide Risk Behaviors O U T C O M E S Demonstrated results for RY include: 80% 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 youths’ sense of personal control  RYTM Inc. Redmond, WA

  17. Reconnecting Youth is an award-winning, program with proven efficacy in helping high-risk youth achieve in school and decrease drug use, anger, depression & suicidal behaviors. SAMHSA awarded RY ‘Model Program’ status for drug abuse prevention.The SPRC 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.  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

  18. Together we can make a difference by reconnecting youth  RYTMInc, Redmond, WA

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