NCJ Number
172943
Journal
Injury Control Update Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 1997 Pages: 13-16
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes a program to teach African-American children, especially boys, how to express anger, deal with negative feedback, and negotiate disagreements with peers.
Abstract
The Positive Adolescent Choices Training (PACT) program was developed at Wright State University to teach African-American children and teens to replace violence-provoking actions with behaviors that create less antagonism and lead to more satisfying and safer results. The program uses interactive strategies that allow students to observe and practice positive behaviors in group meetings and at home: modeling, role play, coaching, feedback, reinforcement, and homework. Dayton, Ohio schools that used the PACT program during the 1992-1993 school year showed a 50 percent reduction in physical aggression, and had more than 50 percent fewer overall and violence-related juvenile court charges. Their behavior improvements were maintained 2-3 years after PACT training ended.