ED465255 - Symposium--The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative: Methodologies and Results in Program-Based Evaluation - ERIC-ED465255 | Content Details

ED465255 - Symposium--The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative: Methodologies and Results in Program-Based Evaluation

Author: Armstrong, Kathleen; Boroughs, Michael; Massey, Oliver T.; Perry, Angela; Sansosti, Frank J.; Uzzell, Doug

Source Institution: University of South Florida, Tampa. Research and Training Center for Children's Mental Health

Sponsoring Agency: National Inst. on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC

Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative - - Reports - Research - - Speeches/Meeting Papers

Subject: Behavior Disorders, Child Rearing, Discipline, Discipline Policy, Elementary Secondary Education, Emotional Disturbances, Family Counseling, Family Involvement, Family Programs, High Risk Students, Intervention, Parent Child Relationship, Parent Education, Prevention, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation, Research Methodology, School Districts, School Safety, Stress Management, Violence

Abstract: This report highlights three of the programs funded through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative in Pinellas County, Florida. These programs are: (1) Think First, an anger management program for high school students; (2) Families and Schools Together (FAST), a parenting program for parents of at-risk elementary students; and (3) On-Campus Intervention Program (OCIP), an alternative to out of school suspension for high school students. Each of these programs targets students who are at risk for school failure, and provides support and skills training to help them . become more successful learners. The On-Campus Intervention Program is described first and outcomes include reductions in school suspensions where the program is fully implemented, high levels of satisfaction among principals and assistant principals, generally favorable responses from teachers, and anecdotal responses from families indicating favorable results. The program Think First is then described. Preliminary results indicate positive findings, with students (n=159) learning skills that will enable them to more successfully deal with conflict through means other than fighting. Evaluation results from the FAST program indicate the program contributes to the development of favorable improvements in families and children and that parents (n=77) were very pleased with the program.