NCJ Number
220492
Journal
Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education Volume: 51 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 73-91
Date Published
September 2007
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This paper summarized the application of the Adelman and Taylor’s 1997 model for district-wide program implementation to the dissemination of an evidence-based parent-child drug education program called Keep A Clear Mind (KACM).
Abstract
Findings provided support for Adelman and Taylor’s model as a framework for collaborative district-wide implementation of substance abuse prevention. The pre-post comparisons from two consecutive cohorts of students indicated a significant reduction in students’ attitudes supporting alcohol use, a significant increase in parent/child communication about prevention, students’ perceived ability to resist peer pressure, and their attitude that alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use is wrong. Focus groups conducted with a subset of the KACM teachers indicated great support for the KACM program, the partnership approach, and the dissemination model. Following the Adelman model, the district successfully implemented KACM in multiple schools, achieved positive student outcomes, and has sustained the program for multiple school years. By adopting a district-level model of program coordination, programming decisions were shifted from the individual schools to the district, resulting in greater program fidelity, enhanced program outcomes, and increased sustainability. The sample included 2,677 fifth graders in 43 schools who participated in the KACM program. While the current study represented a first step toward effectiveness research, there were several limitations noted in the interpretation of the findings: limited subset of schools which submitted sufficient data, lack of a comparison group, and limited information regarding long-term student outcomes. Figures, references