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Manatee County Children's Services

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention
Program Evaluation

Program Plan Report

 

 

Agency: Palmetto Youth Center

Program: Intervention Positive Futures

 

PROFILE

Comprehensive Programming /Program Process

Needs Assessments

Outcomes Design

Prevention Program Theory

DIAGNOSTIC

Needs Assessment/Outcomes Design Match

Outcomes Design/Outcome Data Match

Prevention Program Theory/Evidence-Based Programs Match

Calculations of Cost-Effectiveness

ACTION PLAN

 

 

 

PROFILE

Comprehensive Programming/Program Process

 

Target Population: All children who attend Palmetto Youth Center, whether in after-school or athletic programs, participate in the program. Boys and girls ages 4-15.

Number of Participants Served: 253.

Main Goal(s): Preventing youth substance abuse.

Activities Conducted or Services Provided: Classes, guest speakers, field trips, alternative activities.

Qualifications/Credentials of Prevention Specialists: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) license. Too Good for Drugs (K-8) curriculum training (Mendez Foundation). Resource Connections training.

General Approach: Role-playing, group discussion, practicing refusal skills, posters, homework help, alternative activities. Classes grouped by age (grade-level).

Schedule of Activities: Year-round, rotating children through the program in groups sorted by age.

Reinforcement: At the end of each year children graduate to the next level. There are levels for each age group (grade level).

Academic Support: Daily homework help. Computer lab. Help for parents to assist their children across language barriers (Spanish/English) – Bridge program.

Substances Addressed: Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, prescription drugs.

Constructive/Healthy Alternatives to Substance Abuse Offered or Promoted: Intramural athletic program: football, cheerleading, basketball, track, soccer. Also career exploration, arts and theater, computers.

Opportunities for Youth Participation in the Community: “Next Step” program helps in the community.

Knowledge about substance abuse addressed?	Yes.
Attitudes about substance abuse addressed?	Yes.
Substance abuse behavior addressed?	Yes.
Refusal skills/peer resistance taught?	Yes.
Negative media messages addressed?	Yes.
Stress management/anger control/self-control addressed?	Yes. Stress management/anger control/self-control done informally (one on one).
Decision-making skills/critical thinking addressed?	Yes.
Self-esteem addressed?	Yes.
High and positive life goals promoted?	Yes.
Self-efficacy/sense of personal power/personal optimism promoted?	Yes.
Other issues addressed?
Opportunity for youth leadership with peers or in community?	No.
Recognize program participants for achievement? (e.g., awards, celebrations)	Yes. End of year graduation ceremony with certificates awarded.

 

Needs Assessments

 

Needs Assessments Done: Intake packets. Program curriculum pretests. Online tools (behavior survey, risk and protective factors checklist). Parents provide input on children’s needs.

Evidence Target Population is At-Risk: Children served come from socio-economically disadvantaged populations in area near agency; these children are at-risk for youth substance abuse. Intake forms, pretests, online tools. National Evaluation of Weed and Seed: Case Study—Manatee and Sarasota Counties (1999). U.S. Census (2000). Florida Department of Law Enforcement Report (2002). U.S. Department of Education.

Highest Priority Risk Factors (from Online Tools):

(Children 9+) Low risk perception related to smoking, drinking, and using marijuana. Individual behavior drinking alcohol, binge-drinking alcohol, and using prescription drugs without a prescription.

(Children under 9) Independent problem-solving, education and learning problems, behavior, mood and personality.

Outcomes Design

 

Outcomes from Online POM Database: Drug Awareness/Prevention.

Targets from Online POM Database: 75%.

Prevention Program Theory

 

Replicated Program? Yes.

Theory: http://www.mendezfoundation.org/educationcenter/tgfd/index.htm and
http://www.mendezfoundation.org/educationcenter/tgfd/researchbehind/index.htm

Evidence Basis

Assessments or data sources: Pretest/posttest tool included with the curriculum. Indicator: “Percent of kids in Drug Awareness Program who increased knowledge about each month concept thru pre-test and post-test. Example: Alcohol.”

 

DIAGNOSTIC

Needs Assessment/Outcomes Design Match

Performance on a posttest is not necessarily matched to substance abuse risk perception, substance abuse behavior, independent problem-solving, education and learning problems, or behavior, mood and personality problems.

Individual items on the posttest might be a match for addressing these risk factors, but without distinguishing the relevant items, it is not possible to know whether progress is being made on any of these risk factors.

Outcomes are results that benefit the participants. Higher scores on a posttest do not in themselves benefit the participants. If the benefits of knowledge, attitude, behavior, and skills identified in the posttest can be specified, then outcomes that benefit the participants can be stated.

Outcomes Design/Outcome Data Match

The outcome is generally stated, and not measurable. Awareness could include knowledge, however.

Prevention Program Theory/Evidence-Based Programs Match

Too Good for Drugs is a SAMHSA model program.

Calculations of Cost Effectiveness

No evidence was provided on program cost-effectiveness.

 

ACTION PLAN

Submitted Action Plan

Action Plan

Followup on the Action Plan is suggested.

 

 

 

 

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