Optimizing violence prevention programs: an examination of program effectiveness among urban high school students

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Increasing demand for youth violence prevention programs challenges school schedules.
• School-based programs require a balance between brevity and effectiveness.
• Urban adolescents face unique challenges in violence prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a brief, curriculum-based violence prevention program for urban adolescents.
• To assess the program's impact on conflict resolution skills and academic self-concept.
• To determine if the program is viable within typical high school schedules.

Main Methods:

• A multisite quasi-experimental study design was used.
• Survey data from 1112 9th and 10th graders in 13 NYC public high schools were analyzed.
• Program record data were reviewed for implementation fidelity and participant responsiveness.

Main Results:

• The Violence Prevention Project (VPP) was implemented with acceptable fidelity.
• Participant responsiveness to the VPP model was high.
• VPP participation was linked to improved academic self-concept and enhanced conflict resolution skills.

Conclusions:

• Semester-long violence prevention programs optimized for high schools can be effective.
• The VPP demonstrates a viable model for promoting healthy conflict resolution in urban youth.
• Findings support the integration of effective, brief prevention programs into school curricula.