Evidence-Based Programs Selected from a Menu
The PROSPER menu includes family and school programs that focus on building youth competencies and preventing problem behaviors (e.g., substance abuse, conduct problems), supporting positive youth development, and improving family functioning. Programs on the PROSPER menu are universal programs, designed to promote skills beneficial to all families and youth, not just those “at risk.”
By implementing both a family and a school program, youth are supported in the two most important domains of their lives, home and school. And by offering a menu of family and school programs, teams can tailor their program offerings to meet the needs of their own communities.
All programs on the PROSPER menu are evidence-based – that is, they have been rigorously evaluated and shown to be effective. Unfortunately, research shows that most programs being used by community groups have never have been evaluated, and among those that have been evaluated, most have not been shown to be effective. By selecting and delivering only evidence-based programs, teams can maximize the benefits to youth and families in their communities.
Family-Focused Programs
Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14
This video-based program is designed to reduce adolescent substance abuse and other problem behaviors, as well as to promote youth and family skills building. The program features parent, youth and family sessions that portray typical youth and parent situations. Interactive sessions include role playing, discussions, learning games and family projects.
School-Based Programs
LifeSkills Training
This program seeks to influence the social and psychological factors that contribute to the initiation and early use of substances. Lifeskills Training focuses on three critical skill development areas that research has shown can substantially reduce the likelihood of high-risk behaviors. Areas of focus include drug resistance skills, personal self-management skills and general social skills. The program has 15 sessions with three optional sessions that target violence prevention. It also has supplemental parent–school involvement sessions.
Every PROSPER Community Team oversees the implementation of one family program for 6th graders and their parents and one program that gets taught in 7th grade classrooms.