NCJ Number
156968
Journal
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry Volume: 65 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1995) Pages: 87-100
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The Seattle Social Development Project (SSDP) is a long-term intervention that uses a risk-reduction strategy based on the premise that academic failure, delinquency, and drug abuse can be prevented by reducing, eliminating, or mitigating the effects of risk factors for these problems.
Abstract
The effects of the SSDP were evaluated on the basis of a set of hypothesized intervening variables and on the outcome measures of achievement, drug use, and delinquency for low-income urban children at the end of sixth grade. The intervention combined modified teaching practices in mainstream classrooms, child social skills training, and developmentally adjusted parent training. The results for children exposed to the intervention were mixed. Girls from low-income families in the intervention perceived more opportunities and reinforcements for involvement in the classroom, expressed stronger attachment and commitment to their school, and were less likely to initiate smoking than girls in the control group. Low-income boys in the intervention group progressed in their math, reading, and language arts skills; perceived slightly greater reinforcements for classroom involvement; exhibited more attachment and significantly greater commitment to their schools; and initiated delinquency at significantly lower rates than boys in the control group. However, their drug use rate was comparable with that of controls. 1 table and 60 references