A Framework for Prevention
Communities, schools and families are all influential learning enviornments
for children. The importance of schools and families was highlighted in
the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health: "The bottom
line is that social contexts count. Adolescents who are connected to their
families and schools are healthier than those who are not." This
study clearly shows that parent-family connectedness and perceived school
connectedness are protective factors against adolescent tobacco, alcohol
and other drug use, as well as emotional distress, suicidal thought and
behaviors, violence and initiation of sexual intercourse. ("Protecting
Adolescents from Harm," Journal of American Medical Association,
Vol. 278, No. 10, September 10, 1997.) For these reasons, the revised
edition of Too Good for Drugs™ targets not only individual
students, but also their learning environments.
Community
- Positive youth-centered activities
- Community service
- Mentoring, tutoring, job training
- Coalition-based prevention programming
- Prevention training for community leaders
- Positive media campaigns
- Clear laws/ordinances and consistent enforcement
School
- Multi-year prevention education
- Opportunities to apply prevention skills
- Activities, athletics, peer leadership
- Prevention training for staff and parents
- Policies and systems that reinforce positive norms
- Systems to encourage positive problem-solving
- Clear rules with consistent consequences
Family
- Caring and support
- Use of prevention skills
- Involvement in school and community activities
- Recognition of positive behaviors
- Clear rules and consistent consequence
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