NCJ Number
110480
Journal
Urban Education Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (January 1988) Pages: 510-519
Date Published
1988
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Two studies are discussed which justify social work preventive intervention strategies for vulnerable pupils in school settings.
Abstract
Empirical data from the controlled studies support the belief that school social workers can design, execute, and evaluate preventive interventions for pupils at risk for tobacco use and drug use and abuse. The first study tested tobacco use among a sample of informed and consenting fifth and sixth graders from western Washington schools. Pupils were divided into a skills and discussion group and a control group. The skills and discussion group was presented with tobacco use information and problemsolving methods. Lower tobacco use rates were observed and validated among pupils who received the skills-based preventive intervention. The second study tested drug use among 61 informed and consenting Native American pupils from public and reservation schools in the Pacific Northwest. The pupils were divided into intervention and control groups. Intervention pupils were taught problemsolving, communication, and social support competence skills by Native American and majority culture social workers. Results showed that the intervention group showed greater posttest and followup improvements than the control group on measures of drug knowledge, attitudes, and reported rates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. It is noted that each study focused on problems and pupil subpopulations that may not make up the bulk of most social workers' clinical caseload. 13 references.