YLD (YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT) - TURNING YOUTH ON TO NATURAL HIGHS

• NCJ Number: 49636
• Journal: CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 15-24
• Author(s): E M RUIZ
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: California Office of the Attorney General
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A CALIFORNIA DRUG ABUSE INTERVENTION SERVICE FOR YOUTH, WHICH EMPHASIZES YOUTH-ADULT INTERACTION AND YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAM PLANNING, IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED OPERATES ON THE BELIEF THAT DEALING WITH THE SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS ATTACKING THE ROOT CAUSE OF DRUG ABUSE BEHAVIOR. COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONAL PROBLEMS WITH SIGNIFICANT ADULTS (PARENTS AND TEACHERS) IS ASSUMED TO BE AT THE HEART OF DRUG ABUSE BEHAVIOR IN YOUTH. SIX MAJOR OBJECTIVES FORM THE MAJOR THRUST OF THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (YLD) PROGRAM IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CALIF.,: (1) TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF DRUG-TAKING BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUTH; (2) TO ASSIST YOUTH AND ADULTS IN DEVELOPING THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO RELATE EFFECTIVELY TO EACH OTHER; (3) TO TRAIN YLD TEAMS IN THE USE OF THE INTERACTIVE LEARNING PROCESS (ILP) MODEL, AN INVOLVEMENT ORIENTATION TEACHING AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY DRUG INFORMATION SEMINARS AND OTHER PERTINENT ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT ADULT AUTHORITY FIGURES; (4) TO HOLD PERIODIC 'WHAT'S HAPPENING' SEMINARS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION, GENERATE NEW IDEAS, AND TO GAIN FURTHER PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION SKILLS; (5) TO EXPOSE YLD TEAMS TO OTHER SUCCESSFUL DRUG ABUSE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES; AND (6) TO DEVELOP MATERIALS DESCRIBING THE PROGRAM. STUDENTS IN THE TARGET POPULATION CAME FROM THREE GROUPS: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON PROBATION; CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS; AND THOSE BOTH ON PROBATION AND ATTENDING A CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM WAS MOUNTED THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY SCHOOLS OFFICE, THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE CONTINUATION HIGH SCHOOLS. THE ILP MODEL, DESCRIBED IN DETAIL, BASICALLY INVOLVES LEARNING THROUGH INTERACTION AND COMMUNICATION IN SMALL GROUPS OF ADULTS AND YOUTH. PROBLEMS GENERALLY DISCUSSED IN SEMINARS RANGE IN SCOPE FROM SEVERE ALIENATION OF YOUTH FROM ADULTS, TO DRUGS, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY RELATIONS, VALUE CONFLICTS, AND LACK OF SCHOOL SUCCESS. RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF STUDENT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS REGARDING THEIR OPINIONS ABOUT THE PROGRAM ARE REPORTED. (RCB)