LifeSkills Training

What is LifeSkills Training?

LifeSkills Training (LST) for Middle School students is a multi-year program designed to be used in the classroom. The first year is for sixth and seventh grade students and booster sessions are designed to be delivered the following year to reinforce the concepts. There are seventeen 45-minute sessions for Year 1, and thirteen booster sessions for year two. The program can be taught once a week or several times a week.

Learning objectives include:

• Personal Self-Management Skills—Provides students with skills for enhancing self-esteem, learning creative problem solving, reducing stress and anxiety, and managing anger.
• General Social Skills—Empowers students with skills to meet personal challenges such as overcoming shyness, communicating clearly, building relationships, and avoiding violence.
• Drug Resistance Skills— Enables students to build defenses against pressures to use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.

What are the benefits of LifeSkills Training?

The primary goal is to prevent youth from engaging in behaviors that will put their health and well-being at risk. The program strives to improve personal management skills, interpersonal skills, and social resistance skills. These skills increase the protective factors that result in delayed initiation of illegal substances, decreased use of substances, and decreased aggressive behaviors.

• Cuts tobacco use by 87%
• Cuts alcohol use by 75%
• Decreases use of inhalants, narcotics, and hallucinogens
• Reduces pack-a-day smoking by 25%
• Cuts marijuana use by 75%
• Cuts polydrug use by 66%
• Reduces violence

How does it work?

Program Structure: The program is taught as an intensive mini-series or on an extended schedule. It is designed for grades 6-9 with a three level program consisting of 30 class sessions with each class session lasting 30-45 minutes.

• Level 1 (Grades 6/7): Core Level-15 class sessions including 3 optional violence lessons
• Level 2 (Grades 7/8): Booster Level-10 class sessions including 2 optional violence lessons

Program Components: Each level includes the following materials:

• Comprehensive, easy-to-use teacher’s manuals
• Student guides
• Smoking & Biofeedback DVD
• Stress Management Techniques CD

What training and materials are required for high quality implementation?

A two-day training is recommended for teachers and facilitators delivering LifeSkills Training. LifeSkills Provider Training workshops are designed to:

• Review the background theory, research, and rationale behind the Botvin LifeSkills Training program
• Familiarize participants with the LifeSkills curriculum
• Teach participants the skills needed to successfully conduct the Botvin LifeSkills Training program
• Discuss practical implementation issues

LifeSkills Provider Training workshops can be delivered on-site or through open training workshops sponsored by NHPA.

Materials for Core Program Level 1: Materials required include a teacher’s manual, student guide, and a stress management techniques CD.

How do I get more information?

Call toll free: 1-877-896-8532

Go to the LST website: www.lifeskillstraining.com

LifeSkills Training is listed on the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices