Implementation Factors that Predict Positive Outcomes in a Community-based Intervention Program for at-Risk Adolescents

Family strengthening has become a source of growing interest, research, and program design in the fields of prevention and treatment for problems of youth delinquency, school failure, alcohol, tobacco and other drug abuse (ATOD). Despite many studies that illustrate the positive outcomes of family strengthening programs and family-focused interventions, their use in communities has not advanced commensurate with their promise. This article offers a rationale for why programming efforts should continue to be directed towards family strengthening efforts as opposed to youth-focused only interventions. In addition, a community-based, family-strengthening alternative is described that addresses issues of youth delinquency while reducing barriers associated with availability, accessibility, and cost.

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Where’d You Hear That? Examining the Importance of Individuals and Institutions in Providing Knowledge to At-Risk Adolescents about Their Local Community

Journal of Youth Development ◽

10.5195/jyd.2016.443 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Rosemary V. Barnett ◽

Paige E. Combee ◽

Caroline Payne-Purvis

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Local Community ◽

After School Programs ◽

After School ◽

At Risk Youth ◽

Community Based ◽

School Programs ◽

Community Issues ◽

Positive Correlations ◽

At Risk Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between individuals and institutions when providing information to at-risk youth. This research examined how community issues are translated to 302 at-risk youth participants in two community-based after school programs. It specifically sought to identify the individuals and institutions where adolescents self-reported that they receive information from about community issues and whether there were relationships between these two entities. At-risk youth self-reported learning about community issues from key individuals and institutional connections. Positive correlations were found between all of the individuals and institutions, which indicate youth receive information about their communities from multiple individuals and institution types. The results provide important implications for institutions and individuals to consider as they work with youth.

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Research To Reality: A Model for Community Based Medical Nutrition Therapy an a Comprehensive Early Intervention Program for Medically at Risk Children

Journal of the American Dietetic Association ◽

10.1016/s0002-8223(98)00385-x ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 98 (9) ◽

pp. A23

Author(s):

V.M. Baker ◽

A. Vance

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Early Intervention ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Nutrition Therapy ◽

Medical Nutrition Therapy ◽

Community Based ◽

Early Intervention Program ◽

At Risk Children ◽

Medical Nutrition

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Self-Esteem and Feelings of Community Connectedness of At-Risk Adolescents Attending Community-Based Afterschool Programs

Journal of Youth Development ◽

10.5195/jyd.2013.111 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 79-92

Author(s):

Tina Loughlin ◽

Rosemary V. Barnett ◽

Gerald R. Culen ◽

Nicole L. P. Stedman ◽

Caroline Payne-Purvis

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Significant Relationship ◽

Item Analysis ◽

Community Outreach ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Afterschool Programs ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Connectedness ◽

Community Issues ◽

At Risk Adolescents

This research investigated the relationship between adolescent afterschool program attendance, self-esteem and feelings of community connectedness. Thirty-nine of the 61 at-risk adolescents enrolled in two federally funded, community based afterschool programs participated in the study. Participants completed a 10-item self-esteem questionnaire and a 5-item section of the Youth Involved in Community Issues Survey (YICI) to measure perceptions of community connectedness. Attendance records were also collected from the sites. Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlations. Results indicated that there was not a significant relationship between the total variables. The individual item analysis, however, did find a significant relationship between adolescent community connectedness and self esteem items. Findings suggest that there is a relationship to be explored and strengthened through means of community outreach for adolescents. Conclusions from this study have important implications for youth practice. Specifically, program leaders need to help adolescents get involved in the community as contributing members.

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The Effects of the Winners for Life Book on At-Risk Participants in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology ◽

10.1123/jcsp.2.2.148 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 148-159

Author(s):

Robert Weinberg ◽

Robert Neff ◽

Michael Garza

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Goal Setting ◽

Psychological Factors ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Ethical Responsibility ◽

Control Group ◽

Big Brothers Big Sisters ◽

At Risk Adolescents

Since psychology professionals have a moral and ethical responsibility to evaluate the effectiveness of different products and services aimed at improving psychological/physical well-being, development, and/or performance, the purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Winners for Life book (and accompanying Parent Instructor Guide) on improving a variety of psychological factors for at-risk adolescents. Participants were 96 pairs from the Big Brothers/Little Brothers, Big Sisters/Little Sisters program. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: Winners for Life book, Winners for Life book plus instructor guide, or control group. Each group participated in a 12-week intervention program. Results revealed that both Winners for Life book conditions resulted in greater increases in self-esteem, self-perceived goal setting ability, optimism, and hope than the control condition, with the Winners for Life book plus instructor guide condition achieving the greatest improvements.

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The Effects of an Urban Forest Health Intervention Program on Physical Activity, Substance Abuse, Psychosomatic Symptoms, and Life Satisfaction among Adolescents

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15102134 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 2134 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Riki Tesler ◽

Pnina Plaut ◽

Ronit Endvelt

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

At Risk ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Forest Health ◽

Control Group ◽

Psychosomatic Symptoms ◽

At Risk Adolescents

Background: At-risk adolescents have been defined as youth who are or might be in physical, mental, or emotional danger. An Urban Forest Health Intervention Program (UFHIP) was formed at a center for at-risk adolescents in Israel, in order to promote physical activity and reduce risky behavior. Objective: To evaluate the intervention’s effect on physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, psychosomatic symptoms, and life satisfaction. Methods: From 2015 to 2016, at-risk youth were nonrandomly selected to participate in the UFHIP. Questionnaires were administered to both intervention and control groups before and after the intervention. Univariate and multivariable analyses evaluated the intervention’s effect. Results: The study participants (n = 53) showed 0.81 more sessions per week of 60 min of physical activity than did the control group (n = 23; p = 0.003). Among the intervention group, smoking frequency reduced from a mean of 2.60 (SD = 1.30) to 1.72 (SD = 1.08), whereas that in the control group increased from 3.17 (1.03) to 3.39 (1.03). In both groups, there was a reduction in alcohol consumption, with a greater change among intervention participants: −1.08 (SD = 1.30), compared with −0.09 (SD = 1.79) in the control group. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the environmental intervention was efficacious in increasing physical activity and reducing risky behaviors among youth. The effectiveness of this intervention among larger samples is warranted in future prospective studies.

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Summer Camp: Enhancing Empathy Through Positive Behavior and Social and Emotional Learning

Journal of Experiential Education ◽

10.1177/1053825920923382 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 398-415

Author(s):

Carmen Carpio de los Pinos ◽

Antonio Gobea Soto ◽

José Luis Martín Conty ◽

Rosa Conty Serrano

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Behavioral Interventions ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Standardized Test ◽

Summer Camp ◽

Social And Emotional Learning ◽

Emotional Learning ◽

Positive Behavior ◽

Social And Emotional ◽

At Risk Adolescents

Background: Summer camp is proposed as a context to enhance prosocial behavior. This context could be used to apply intervention programs, in addition to being a time of fun and conviviality. A camp-based intervention program to increase empathy was administered for adolescents at risk. Purpose: The aim of this study was to apply and evaluate a positive behavior and social and emotional learning (SEL) intervention on empathy. Methodology/Approach: This exploratory study was carried out with pre–post quantitative design, based on a single-group intervention, with 113 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. Change in empathy was measured by means of a standardized test and participant observation. We used evidence-based interventions, drawing on the principles of positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and SEL approach. Findings/Conclusions: An intervention in positive behavior and SEL was useful in improving empathy in at-risk adolescents. The enhancement was noticeable in both cognitive and emotional empathy, more specifically in the constructs of perspective taking and empathic concern. Implications: Summer camps might be considered an appropriate setting for interventions with at-risk adolescents.

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The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Intervention Program for Women At-Risk for Giving Birth to a Child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Community Mental Health Journal ◽

10.1007/s10597-010-9342-0 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 12-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Carmen Rasmussen ◽

Katrina Kully-Martens ◽

Kennedy Denys ◽

Dorothy Badry ◽

Dorothy Henneveld ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Fetal Alcohol ◽

Community Based ◽

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

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Effectiveness of Community-Based OT Mental Health Services for At-Risk Adolescents: A Systematic Review

American Journal of Occupational Therapy ◽

10.5014/ajot.2021.75s2-rp393 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 7512520393p1-7512520393p1

Author(s):

Levana Tabanpour ◽

Angeli Gutierrez ◽

Alyssa Mercado ◽

Rachel Munyon

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Systematic Review ◽

At Risk ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Juvenile Detention ◽

Community Based ◽

At Risk Adolescents

Abstract Date Presented Accepted for AOTA INSPIRE 2021 but unable to be presented due to online event limitations. At-risk adolescents tend to be of low socioeconomic status or have been in juvenile detention, which affects their mental health, leading to a decrease in occupational participation and performance. This systematic review examines the participation of at-risk adolescents in community-based OT mental health services and its positive impact on occupational engagement. Research within this scope of practice can yield more effective, evidence-based, and client-centered interventions. Primary Author and Speaker: Levana Tabanpour Contributing Authors: Angeli Gutierrez, Alyssa Mercado, and Rachel Munyon

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A Community-Based Survey and Screening for Depression in the Elderly

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000007 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 100-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Hirofumi Oyama ◽

Tomoe Sakashita ◽

Kei Hojo ◽

Naoki Watanabe ◽

Tohru Takizawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Reduction ◽

Intervention Program ◽

Screening Program ◽

The Elderly ◽

Depression Screening ◽

Reference Region ◽

Elderly Men ◽

Community Based ◽

Intervention Region ◽

Initial Survey

Background: In addition to implementing a depression screening program, conducting a survey beforehand might contribute to suicide risk reduction for the elderly. Aims: This study evaluates outcomes of a community-based program to prevent suicide among individuals aged 60 and over, using a quasiexperimental design with an intervention region (41,337 residents, 35.1% aged 60 and over) and a neighboring reference region. Methods: Our 2-year intervention program included an anonymous survey by random sample in the entire intervention region and, in the second year, a depression screening with follow-up by a psychiatrist in the higher-risk districts. Changes in the risk of completed suicide were estimated by the incidence-rate ratio (IRR). Results: The risk for men in the intervention region was reduced by 61% (age-adjusted IRR = 0.39; 90% CI = 0.18–0.87), whereas there was a (statistically insignificant) 51% risk reduction for women in the intervention region, and no risk reduction for either men or women in the reference region. The ratio of the crude IRR for elderly men in the intervention region to that for all elderly men in Japan was estimated at 0.42 (90% CI = 0.18–0.92), showing that the risk reduction was greater than the national change. Conclusions: The management of depression through a combination of an initial survey and subsequent screening holds clear promise for prompt effectiveness in the prevention of suicide for elderly men, and potentially for women.

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