NCJ Number
181582
Date Published
1998
Length
73 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes and assesses the components, operation, and outcomes of a youth drug prevention program in Dorchester, Mass, and presents program materials and background information.
Abstract
The Ounce of Prevention program took place at the Walter Denny Youth Center, a component of the Harbor Point Community Task Force in an Enhanced Enterprise Community. The project had five strategies to reduce juvenile delinquency, decrease high school dropouts and adolescent pregnancy, and reduce juvenile drug use and abuse. The first strategy was to strengthen the existing Youth Council by increasing the membership of youths ages 12-16 years in policy and management positions. The second was to provide extensive peer leadership training and peer-to-peer mentoring around drug and alcohol prevention. The three other strategies were to increase parent involvement in youth issues, to organize programming away from the community to broaden youth experiences, and to collaborate with youth service providers to leverage existing resources and avoid service duplication. Participants were 36 males and 47 females ages 12-16, including 81 blacks, 1 white, and 1 Asian-American. The project involved them in workshops, established collaborative partnerships with health and social service agencies, and conducted several events. The young males' interest declined and the young females' interest increased over the project years. Efforts to increase parent involvement and to involve youth in drug prevention were unsuccessful. The project had many other limitations as well, but it spent its Federal grant funds appropriately. Program materials and copy of youth resource manual listing youth programs, social service agencies, shelters, and Boston community centers