Evaluation of Project P.A.T.H.S. In Hong Kong: triangulation of findings based on different evaluation strategies

There are different adolescent developmental issues in Hong Kong, such as mental health problems, abuse of psychotropic substances, adolescent suicide, school violence, and drop in family solidarity, that deserve the attention of helping professionals[1]. With reference to these problems, primary prevention programs that target specific adolescent developmental problems and positive youth development programs are called for. Furthermore, attempts to identify the "at-risk" adolescents at an earlier stage are important. However, research findings show that there are very few systematic and multiyear positive youth development programs in Hong Kong. Even if such programs exist, they commonly deal with isolated problems and issues in adolescent development (i.e., deficits-oriented programs) and they are relatively short term in nature. In addition, systematic and long-term evaluation of the available programs does not exist[2].