Citation

Aseltine RH, Dupre M, Lamlein P. Adolesc. Fam. Health 2000; 1(1): 11-20.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Instutute for Youth Development)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article presents results of a three-year evaluation of Across Ages, an intergenerational approach to drug and alcohol prevention. The program consists of three major elements: 1) a mentoring program in which youths are matched with older adults who provide ongoing support and encouragement in weekly interactions; 2) community service activities designed to promote involvement with and better understanding of the frail elderly; and 3) a school-based like skills curriculum. Approximately 400 6th grade students in Springfield, Massachusetts, an ethnically diverse community with a large proportion of public school students living in low income families, took part in the evaluation over a three year period. Students' classes were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: the mentor condition, in which students received the life skills curriculum, communitiy service activities, and were assigned an elderly mentor; the curriculum condition, in which students received only the life skills curriculum and community service activities; and the control condition, in which students received no intervention. Youths involved in the study completed questionnaires on three occasions: prior to the initiation of program activities, at the conclusion of the program, and again six months following the cessation of the program activities. Results indicate that mentoring is associated with significantly lower levels of problem behavior and substance abuse and significantly higher levels of self-confidence, self-control, cooperation, and attachment to both the school and the family. Moreover, students receiving mentoring report significantly lower levels of alcohol use. In contrast, few positive effects of the life skills curriculum or community service activities are observed. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Adolescent & Family Health, 2000. Copyright © 2000 by the Institute for Youth Development)

For more information on Across Ages, a Safe Communities ~ Safe Schools Favorable Program, see VioPro record number 2907.

Juvenile Substance Use
Child Substance Use
Substance Use Prevention
Drug Use Prevention
Late Childhood
Elementary School Student
Grade 6
Elementary School Student
Mentoring
Prevention Program
Program Evaluation
Community Services
Elder Adult Mentor
Child Development
Social Skills Development
Prosocial Skills
Youth Development
Curriculum
Child Self-Esteem
Self-Esteem Development
Child Behavior
Child Problem Behavior
Behavior Prevention
SCSS Favorable Reference
04-02