Preliminary Evaluation of a Resiliency-Based Preschool Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention Project

• NCJ Number: 178157
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: 1998 Pages: 235-255
• Author(s): Judith S. Dubas Ph.D.; Kathleen B. Lynch Ph.D.; Joseph Galano Ph.D.; Susan Geller M.S.; Denise Hunt M.S.
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 21 pages
• Grant Number(s): 86872-103-94
• Sponsoring Agency: Virginia Secretary of Public Safety
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article evaluates the Resilient Children Making Healthy Choices (RCMHC) Project, an early childhood prevention initiative designed to promote health and social competence in young children.

Abstract

The RCMHC Project trains teachers in skills aimed at nurturing children’s resilient development. Through a model program implemented in 10 Head Start and other community-based preschool classrooms, teachers were trained in the use and integration of resiliency-based substance abuse/violence prevention strategies in their teaching practices. Analysis of outcome data from a pre-post comparison group design revealed increases in teacher interactional skills designed to enhance children’s resiliency, and improvements in children’s prosocial behaviors. The second phase of the program extends the curriculum to 12 additional classrooms, increases the number of comparison classrooms, systematically varies teacher experience and skill level, expands to include 3-year-old children, and includes child interview and observations at a subset of sites. Tables, references