NCJ Number
159771
Date Published
1992
Length
59 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the rationale, planning, operation, and outcomes of a demonstration effort in three areas of the Nation designed to involve youth in community drug prevention; the program is entitled Teens as Resources Against Drugs (TARAD).
Abstract
The three areas involved were New York City, Evansville (Indiana), and communities in South Carolina. The rationale for the program was based in two themes: that teens are concerned about the effects of drug abuse on their peers and that it is important for youth to learn that they have skills and abilities that are valued by and have a positive impact on their communities. TARAD was designed to attract a variety of youth to conduct projects that youth believed would reduce drug abuse in their communities. A major benefit of the TARAD model was that the projects and programs it created were driven by local need, local concern, and local enthusiasm. Youth were involved in deciding what actions to take, obtaining the funds to implement their plans, and performing program tasks. In the three areas, more than 3,000 youths undertook nearly 100 projects in less than 2 years, and the projects costs, on average, less than $900 each. Tens of thousands of children, teens, and adults benefited from the work of these youth. The primary lesson learned from TARAD is that any community can marshal modest resources to attract the energy and ability of its youth to help prevent drug abuse. In discussing the results of TARAD, this report focuses on the benefits to the communities, the youths who participated, and the host agencies. The lessons learned relate to the characteristics of youth, program organization, and program management. Detailed guidelines are provided for starting a TARAD program. 23 resource listings and a listing of 12 contacts for a sample of projects