Why use evidence-based, research-based proven programs for delivering services in Lake County?
ANSWER
Every community agency or organization wants to offer a service that makes a difference. In order to accomplish this, it is important to offer or deliver a program that meets the needs of the youth of Lake County.
In Lake County, we are attempting to address the problems of youth substance abuse and violence among other issues. Theses are complex social problems that are best addressed by targeting local conditions requiring comprehensive solutions using strategies developed by nationally recognized prevention scientists to meet the needs of our community.
Prevention research indicates that few problems are amenable to change through direct influence so most problems must be influenced indirectly by addressing underlying factors that contribute to the problems. Using evidence-based interventions, Lake County has the flexibility to choose options that fit our community circumstances.
What are our community’s circumstances? Conditions that lead to the development of problems and consequences may include specific local policies and practices, community realities and population shifts. The risk and protective factors in the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey identify these factors for us. By using the latest research – which identifies these factors – service providers are in the best position to offer/deliver programs/interventions best suited to meet the needs of our county.
The 2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey: Lake County Report tells us our risk and protective factors. Risk factors are those conditions that increase the likelihood of a young person becoming involved in drug use, delinquency, school dropout and violence. For examples, the middle school risk factors are:
Transitions & Mobility in the Community Domain; Family History of Antisocial Behavior in the Family Domain; Lack of Commitment to School in the School Domain; and Favorable Attitudes toward Antisocial Behavior in the Peer/Individual Domain. An agency offering services to youth of middle school age will take these risk factors into consideration when planning a program.
Lake County’s high school risk factors are as follows: Transitions & Mobility:
Family History of Antisocial Behavior; Lack of Commitment to School; and
Rebelliousness in the Peer/Individual Domain.
Protective factors are also known as assets. These are conditions that buffer children and youth from exposure to risk by either reducing the impact of the risks or changing the way that young people respond to the risks. For example, the middle school protective factors are: Religiosity in the Peer/Individual Domain and Community Rewards for Prosocial Involvement in the Community Domain.
What does this mean? Students who report high scores on “religiosity” are more likely to benefit from relationships with prosocial adults and peers, opportunities for prosocial activities, & the teaching of prosocial values. High scores on “community rewards” mean that students receive encouragement and praise from neighbors and other members of their community. These youth are more likely to accept guidance from positive role models.
Lake County high school protective factors are: Social Skills in the Peer/Individual Domain and Community Rewards for Prosocial Involvement.
Students who report high levels of “social skills” are better able to resolve conflicts in a productive manner & avoid risky behaviors in favor of more positive, prosocial choices.
The analysis of risk and protective factors is the most powerful tool available for understanding what promotes both positive and negative adolescent behavior and for helping design successful prevention programs for youth. To promote positive development and prevent problem behavior, it is necessary to address the factors that predict these outcomes. By measuring these risk and protective factors, specific factors that are elevated can be prioritized within the community. This process also helps in selecting tested-effective prevention programming shown to address those elevated factors and consequently provide the greatest likelihood of success.
