Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1990

Thesis Director

Paul D. Overton

Abstract

Statement of the Problem

The area to be discussed is the development of a prevention program for the Spoon River Valley Schools, and the role of this program within the Fulton County Prevention Network. The primary focus of this paper will be the school's effort to prevent substance abuse by the students, but also addressed are prevention activities which combat other self-destructive behaviors such as teen pregnancy and suicide.

Procedure

The method of research used in this study is descriptive. The components of a prevention program which have evolved during the 1980s, both at Spoon River Valley Schools, and as a part of the Fulton County Prevention Network were reviewed, which included a chronology of many of these activities during the late 1980s. This study also includes a survey of high school principals or prevention program coordinators as to the important components of a school prevention program.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this study is to explore what has been effective prevention program strategies at Spoon River Valley Schools and in Fulton County. Using this prevention program review of activities at Spoon River Valley Schools and in Fulton County and a survey of opinions of school officials at high schools of similar size, this author designed a prevention program model for 1990-91.

Recommendations

1. The prevention program at Spoon River Valley Schools deserves a variety of types of support.

2. The school district prevention program coordinator should be an active leader in school and county activities.

3. The county prevention network should be maintained.

4. The level of funding for support of prevention programs and activities at Spoon River Valley Schools and in Fulton County is adequate and should be maintained.

5. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program should be maintained at all county schools.

6. The "Define, Explore, Consider, Invite, Decide, and Evaluate'' (DECIDE) drug education curriculum should be retained and its effectiveness increased at all county schools.

7. Both the Fulton County Junior High School Leadership Conference and the Teen Conference for high school students should be retained as annual prevention activities.

8. Spoon River Valley High School and all Fulton County high schools should continue to recruit students for the Illinois Teenage Institute (ITI).

9. Operation Snowball activities deserve ongoing support.

10. Spoon River Valley Schools should strive to maintain and expand the membership in Valley High School Peer Support.

11. Spoon River Valley Schools should maintain and expand the membership in its chapter of Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD).

12. The administration and staff at Spoon River Valley Schools should continue their effort to ensure that the school campus and all activities are drug free.

13. The school's prevention policies should be reviewed annually.

14. Prevention activities at county schools and within the prevention network should emphasize three major thrusts: offer the teens opportunity to assume ownership; direct activities at all students; and allow teens to assume leadership roles.

15. The prevention program at Spoon River Valley Schools and in Fulton County should be a broad based approach.

16. Spoon River Valley Schools should work with community health care providers in providing an aftercare phase of treatment.

17. The student council at Spoon River Valley High School should be utilized as a resource group.

18. The county schools and the other aspects of the Fulton County prevention network should seek ways of encouraging more school personnel and parents to take a more active role in prevention.

19. Part of the prevention program at Spoon River Valley Schools is an ongoing program of public relations.

20. The prevention program and guidance program objectives should be consistent at Spoon River Valley Schools.

21. Admit that there is and will always continue to be a degree of a problem.

22. Spoon River Valley Schools should provide a variety of drug free activities.

23. All Spoon River Valley School departments should help students with life skills.

24. The prevention program at Spoon River Valley Schools should help develop "positive peer models".

25. The school should enlist the support of the family as part of the prevention program.

26. The school prevention program should have a positive impact on the general school environment.

27. Prevention at Spoon River Valley Schools and in Fulton County should be recognized as a community effort.

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