Project PACE (OJJDP Model Program Guide)

Office of Justice Programs, Innovation - Partnerships – Safer Neighborhoods

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Serving Children, Families and Communities

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Project PACE

Intervention:

Project PACE (Participation And Cooperation in Education) is a prevention program designed to prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug by providing a series of intensive interventions to at-risk fourth grade students and their families. The interventions, grouped by domain, increase protective factors and reduce risk factors. They include

Individual—weekly student groups in school, regular individual student meetings with a prevention specialist, in-home family meetings, monthly student field trips, family activities, residential overnight summer camp, weekend overnight retreats, and involvement in recreational, community service, and social activities.
Family—in-home family meetings, family activities, parent education group meetings, parent participation in student residential camp experience, field trips and cultural events, counseling, and casework services/referrals relating to such basic needs as employment, education, English as a Second Language programs, food stamps, and Medicaid.
School—a buddy system created to support program families’ participation/attendance at PTA and other school meetings, prevention specialists serving as liaisons/ombudspersons between families and school, and district advisory councils to empower parents (especially minority parents).

Evaluation Methodology:

The evaluation used a true experimental pretest–posttest control group design. Sixty-four at-risk multicultural youths (and an equal number of control youths) were randomly selected from a pool of current third graders in Huntington, N.Y. The youths were identified and ranked according to risk factor scores. Program youths and families received the intensive services of the PACE program for 1 year. PACE staff provided the following intervention strategies:

In-school weekly sessions (twice a week per classroom per school)
Individual student meetings with prevention specialists
Participant involvement in recreational, community, and social activities
Weekend overnight retreats and summer camp
In-home visits with prevention specialists
Family participation activities including educational programs, overnight camping, field trips, cultural activities, and (if necessary) casework services and referrals
School/family activities including “Parent Buddy System” at PTA and other school meetings, “Parent Advisory Council,” and “Building Cooperative Support With Schools”
Conducting opinion /attitude surveys of parents and children program and control groups

Program and control youths were followed for 4 years to determine the long-term effects of the program. Following each program year, students were asked to complete the PACE Student Subjective Evaluation. Parents completed the Parent Subjective Survey instrument. A similar replication project was executed in East Boston, Mass. The Huntington project is compared with both the original Lancaster, Pa., and East Boston projects.

Evaluation Outcome:

Both students and their families reported feeling that the PACE program was beneficial to the students. Although analysis from the evaluation suggests mixed results, several outcomes from participation in the program were favorable:

A positive impact was made on reducing sixth grade absences.
Low-risk participants showed increased self-esteem.
Negative problem behaviors for the high-risk group decreased.

The control group reported substantially more beer use on the posttest.

Other Information:

References:

Georgiou, Maria, and T. Webster. 2000. Project Pace (Participation and Cooperation in Education): Final Report. Huntington, N.Y.: Huntington Youth Bureau.

Program Specification:

Current Rating:

Promising

Expected Date of Re-Review:

Summer 2013

Program Type:

Alcohol and Drug Therapy / Education

Conflict Resolution / Interpersonal Skills

Parent Training

Wraparound / Case Management

Ethnicity:

Asian

African American

Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

White

Gender:

Both

Age:

9 - 10

Target Settings:

Rural

Suburban

Urban

Problem Behaviors:

Alcohol,Tobacco and Other Drug Use

Risk & Protective Factors:

Risk

Community

Community crime / High crime neighborhood

Economic deprivation / Poverty / Residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood

Family

Broken home

Child victimization and maltreatment

Family history of problem behavior / Parent criminality

Family management problems / Poor parental supervision and/or monitoring

Family violence

Low parent education level / Literacy

Parental use of physical punishment / Harsh and/or erratic discipline practices

Pattern of high family conflict

Poor family attachment / Bonding

Individual

Antisocial behavior and alienation / Delinquent beliefs / General delinquency involvement / Drug dealing

Cognitive and neurological deficits/Low intelligence quotient/Hyperactivity

Favorable attitudes toward drug use/Early onset of AOD use/Alcohol and/or drug use

Life stressors

Mental disorder / Mental health problem / Conduct disorder

Poor refusal skills

Victimization and exposure to violence

Peer

Association with delinquent and/or aggressive peers

Gang involvement / Gang membership

Peer alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drug use

Peer rejection

School

Dropping out of school

Identified as learning disabled

Inadequate school climate / Poorly organized and functioning schools / Negative labeling by teachers

Low academic achievement

Negative attitude toward school / Low bonding / Low school attachment / Commitment to school

Truancy / Frequent absences

Protective

Community

Clear social norms / Policies with sanctions for violations and rewards for compliance

Presence and involvement of caring, supportive adults in the community

Family

Effective parenting

Good relationship with parents / Bonding or attachment to family

Opportunities for prosocial family involvement

Rewards for prosocial family involvement

Individual

Healthy / Conventional beliefs and clear standards

High individual expectations

Perception of social support from adults and peers

Positive / Resilient temperament

Positive expectations / Optimism for the future

Self-efficacy

Social competencies and problem solving skills

Peer

Good relationships with peers

Involvement with positive peer group activities

School

High expectations of students

High quality schools / Clear standards and rules

Presence and involvement of caring, supportive adults in school

Strong school motivation / Positive attitude toward school

Student bonding (attachment to teachers, belief, commitment)

Additional Information:

SAMHSA: NREPP

Status:

Program is in operation at this time.

Performance Measures:

Suggested OJJDP Performance Measures for the Program Types(s):

Delinquency Prevention
Parent Training
Logic Model: PDF
Performance Matrix:PDF
Mental Health Services
Parent Training
Logic Model: PDF
Performance Matrix:PDF

Contact Information:

Program Developer:
Maria Georgiou, R.C.S.W., Executive Director
Huntington Youth Bureau
423 Park Avenue
Huntington, NY 11743
Phone: 6313513061
Fax: 6312711360
Email: Click Here