The Minnesota D.A.R.E. Plus Project is a multi-component research project that evaluates and enhances the junior high Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) curriculum. The study enhances the D.A.R.E. curriculum with peer-led classroom instruction, parent education, adult community action teams, and youth-planned and led extracurricular activities. Community organizers were trained and hired to form Adult Action Teams to work on neighborhood issues that influence ATOD use and violence among cohort students. The community organizers also recruited students to create Youth Action Teams in each school to plan and lead social/recreational, educational, and community service extracurricular activities. Process evaluation data will be presented on 1) the number and type of activities and initiatives carried out by the Adult Action Teams, 2) the quantity and type of participation of students in the Youth Action Teams, and 3) a Mini Proposal process used by students to encourage the initiation and implementation of peer-driven after school activities, and 4) the number of extracurricular activities planned and implemented by students.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn how students were involved in planning and implementing extracurricular activities in 8 intervention sites as part of a multi-component research project to reduce alcohol, tobacco, drug use and violence among 7th and 8th grade students, as well as how Adult Action Teams were created in each of the schools to address environmental problems with ATOD/violence.
Keywords: Community Participation, Youth
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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