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Evidence Based Prevention Programs For Schools

Healthy People 2020 are a government-sponsored program to provide science-based 10-year objectives for improving the health of all Americans. One objective is to “Increase the proportion of elementary, middle, and senior high schools that provide comprehensive school health education to prevent health problems.” A University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Medical University of South Carolina study examined the role of education in this effort and identified evidence-based, peer-reviewed programs, strategies, and resources. The results were organized in the categories of sexual health, mental and emotional health, injury prevention, tobacco and substance abuse, and exercise and healthy eating.
In the discussion of substance abuse the authors pointed out that 11% of the alcohol in the US is consumed by those 12-20 years of age, the use of illicit drugs usually begins in that age group, and is associated with problems like violence, injury, and HIV infection. Five evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs were indentified: Protecting You/Protecting Me, Life Skills Training, CASASTART, Class Action/Project Northland, and Project Alert. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created the Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) to aid schools in choosing health education programs. Additional resources can be found in The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/.
The study concludes that evidence-based strategies for implementing prevention programs are often a “missing link” crucial to prevention program success.
(Inman, DD, van Bekergem, KM, LaRosa, MD, Garr, DR: Evidence-based health promotion programs for schools and communities. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2011, 40: 207-219.)

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