NCJ Number
189939
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 185-206
Date Published
2001
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Parents, students, and program leaders involved in an in-school drug prevention program called Opening Doors were queried about their perceptions of the program's efficacy.
Abstract
The Opening Doors Program was designed for students who found the transition from elementary school into high school particularly challenging. Some students are at risk of developing behavioral patterns that result in negative consequences, such as truancy, delinquency, and substance use. To participate in the Opening Doors Program, students must first be identified as being "at-risk." Risk is determined through a screening questionnaire. Once accepted into the program, students attend 17 1-hour sessions usually held once or twice a week. Parents are invited to participate in a shorter parent program component. The student program focuses on social competence skills training, and the parent component assists parents in developing a positive home environment. The feedback on the program obtained from students, parents, and program leaders indicated a very high program satisfaction level, with parents showing the highest level of satisfaction (92 percent). Areas for improvement ranged from parent attendance, the invitation process, increased support from schools, and increasing awareness of scheduling and time involvement by leaders and school administration. Student satisfaction may be predicted from the perceived impact of the program on significant relationships (e.g., peers and family), as well as affective reactions to the program (e.g., enjoyment of the program). A school-level analysis indicated that the application of the Opening Doors Program in different schools was delivered uniformly. 2 tables and 11 references