Getting Teachers in on the Act: Evaluation of a Theater and Classroom-Based Youth Violence Prevention Program

• NCJ Number: 230543
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: April - June 2010 Pages: 117-135
• Author(s): Marla Zucker; Joseph Spinazzola; Aime Alley Pollack; Lauren Pepe; Stepahnie Barry; Lynda Zhang; Bessel van der Kolk
• Date Published: April 2010
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the replicability of Urban Improv (UI), a theater-based youth violence prevention program developed for urban youth.

Abstract

This study replicated and extended our previous evaluation of Urban Improv (UI), a theater-based youth violence prevention (YVP) program developed for urban youth. It assessed the replicability of positive program impacts when implemented by nonprogram originators, as well as the utility of a comprehensive version of the UI program that included a classroom-based teacher curriculum (TC). Outcomes compared 260 elementary school students in classrooms that received basic UI, the TC, or the comprehensive program (UI + TC), or to serve as matched control classrooms. Findings revealed that UI can be generalized to new troupes, the comprehensive program demonstrates an additive effect over UI alone, and the TC shows some promise as an easily disseminated, stand-alone YVP program. Tables and references (Published Abstract)