Lifeways Inc. Evaluation

1. Lifeways Inc.Evaluation September 2011 – May 2012

2. Lifeways Programming • 7.5 Staff - Providing Evidence Based Program PROJECT SUCCESS in Rapid City Area School District • East MS – Angela Wiederich • North MS – Amanda Thomas • South MS – Bob Burke (2.5 days per week) • Southwest MS – Bob Burke (2.5 days per week) • West MS – Paula Long Fox (2.5 days per week) • Academies – Michelle Mott • Central HS – Kelsey Arneson & Chelle Schefcik • Stevens HS – David Herrick

3. PROJECT SUCCESS • Universal prevention strategies are designed to reach the entire population without regard to individual risk factors. • Project Success Education Series (7th and 9th grade) • Universal prevention education and activities • Pro-social student groups (i.e., SADD, Youth 2Youth, etc.) • Selective prevention strategies target subgroups of the general population that are determined to be at risk for substance abuse. • Individual and group education • Indicated prevention interventions identify individuals who are experiencing early signs of substance abuse and target them with special programs. • Individual and group education • Intervention classes - PATH II (10 hours) and PATH III (20 hours)

4. 2011-2012 MS Direct Service School Hours 63% of time spent on universal prevention 34% of time spent on selective / indicated prevention

5. 2011-2012 HS Direct Service School Hours 34% of time spent on universal prevention 66% of time spent on selective / indicated prevention

6. Classroom Education • Lifeways provided 641 classroom presentation hours • 388.5 hours at the middle school level with 8618.5 student contact hours • 51 sections of the Project Success Education series • 145 other classroom presentations • 252.5 hours at the high school level with 6708.5 student contact hours • 29 sections of the Project Success Education series • 94 other classroom presentations

7. Individual and Group Education Assessment/Screening/Referral/Individual Sessions/Group Sessions • Lifeways provided 1019 hours of individual prevention education • 303 hours at the middle school level • 437 sessions with 152 students • 80% seen 3 or less times, 16% seen 4 – 9 times, 5% students seen 10+ times (max 28 times) • 19% were referred to the MS Path, 8% were referred to a COSAPs group, and 6% were referred to outside services including mental health counseling or treatment services. • 716 hours at the high school level • 785 sessions with 259 students • 68% seen 3 or less times, 31% seen 4 – 9 times, 2% seen 10 or more times (max 18 times) • 21% were referred to Path II, 20% were referred to Path III, 6% were referred to a COSAPs group, 9% were referred to treatment services, and 9% were referred to other outside services including mental health counseling. • Lifeways provided 110.5 hours of group prevention education • 68 hours at the middle school level • 42.5 hours at the high school level

8. PATH II • 74 students signed up for PATH II • 10 students signed up but never attended • 9 groups held with 64 students and 65 parents • 59 students (92%) completed PATH II • 47 (80%) complete in 1 month • 8 (14%) complete in 2 months • 4 (7%) complete in 3 – 9 months of first class • 5 students (8%) attended but didn’t complete the class

9. PATH III • 78 students signed up for PATH III • 14 students signed up but never attended • 9 groups held with 64 students and 50 parents • 47 students (73%) completed PATH III • 38 (81%) complete in 1 month • 9 (19%) complete in 2 – 5 months of first class • 17 students (27%) attended but didn’t complete the class

10. State Funding • First year of implementation of SPF SIG grant • Goal – decrease underage drinking among 12 – 20 year olds • Lifeways will accomplish this goal by: • Increasing the perception of harm of underage alcohol use • Decrease the social norm of accepting underage drinking • Improve coping styles and social competence skills

11. Successes • After participating in all Lifeways programming, youth see alcohol use as more harmful than they previously thought • Think drinking is more dangerous for teenagers than adults • Think teen drinkers are more likely to get addicted than those who start drinking as adults • Think drinking has a long term impact on their brain • PATH students are becoming more aware of the consequences of their substance use.

12. Successes • After participating in all Lifeways programming, youth are learning healthy ways to cope and creating a healthy support system • Realize that using alcohol or drugs is not a good way to deal with stress, anxiety, sadness, or depression • Have increased their refusal skills and feel that they have control over their lives. • Feel that they have an adult that they can turn to when they have a problem. • Have set goals and feel more hopeful about their future. • PATH students show an intention to change their behavior regarding their substance use.

13. Successes • 1 in 3 students are aware of Lifeways and the SADD/Y2Y/TATU groups in their schools • Almost all staff are aware of Lifeways in their schools • Lifeways staff rated highly, especially on their attitude, rapport with students, and knowledge of material. • After participating in some of Lifeways programming, youth are learning that most people their age do not drink • Best results seen with students participating in individual education