by Laura Garcia, BA, LCDC Adelaida F. Hernández, MA, LCDC

1. A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills by Laura Garcia, BA, LCDC Adelaida F. Hernández, MA, LCDC

2. What is Indicated Prevention? Three Types of Prevention Programs ●-----------------●------------------● Universal Serve Everyone in Population Selective Serve High Risk Groups Indicated Serve High Risk Individuals LOW RISK HIGH RISK Potential high school dropouts are a known group of high-risk youth.

3. 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

4. RY Program Strategies RY Prevention Program Strategies Address the Risk Factors In each of the four key areas: *School *Peers *Personal *Family

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Family Risk Factors ● Family distress; serious conflicts ● Poor family/school connections ● Unclear/unfair rules; Coercive parenting ● Parental drug use/abuse; unconventional drug use norms

9. 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

10. Family Strategies • Getting active parental consent for • student’s enrollment in RY class • 2. Parent support for RY goals • 3. Enhancing RY teacher/parent communication • Sending home positive messages about • RY student

11. Individual Strategies • Skills Training • * setting goals, decision-making • * giving and receiving feedback • * interpersonal skills • Self-monitoring • * school attendance, grades • * moods and drug use • School Engagement • * safe and drug-free social activities • * engaging in school activities

12. 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

13. 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

14. RY Students are… Invited, NOT assigned Richly diverse group ☼ males & females ☼ grades 9-12 ☼ different social groups ☼ varying maturity levels ☼ varying “disconnected” levels

15. 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 • Taught by an RY Co. trained teacher who excels in • working with high-risk youth • Is limited to a 10-12 student class size • Focuses on skills training within the context of • adult and peer support

16. RY Program Goals • 1. Increased school performance • Decrease drug involvement • 3. Decrease suicide risk behaviors

17. RY Components & Outcomes Program Components MediatorsOutcomes Increased School Performance RY Leader Support Increased Personal Competencies And Increased Social Support Resources Peer Group Support Decreased Drug Involvement RY Skills Training Monitoring Decreased Suicide Risk Behavior School Bonding & Healthy Social Activities

18. RY Curriculum Units • Getting Started-First 10 Days • 2. Self-Esteem Enhancement • 3. Decision Making • 4.Personal Control • 5. Interpersonal Communication

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. Reconnecting YouthPrevention Program Together we can make a difference by reconnecting youth.