Process evaluation of Nebraska's Team Training Project

A process evaluation of the Nebraska Drug Free School/Community Residential Team Training Project is described. This training project utilizes a "system approach" in the formation and implementation of localized strategic (action) plans targeting alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse prevention.

In June of 1990, training participants completed a pre-post survey in conjunction with the four-day training. The majority of the participants (51.2%) were teachers, 19.2 percent were parents, 13.6 percent administrators, and 9.6 percent were counselors.

Although the overall attitudes of the participants (N = 125) were positive initially, they became even more so by the end of the training (N = 121). Prior to training participants felt they could have a significant impact on their local AOD abuse problem, and this attitude became more positive by the completion of training (p < 0.05).

The Nebraska team training process immerses team members in an active planning process allowing teams to develop a plan of action for their school and community. During this process, participants experience a positive growth in attitudes reflecting not only the training experience itself, but even more importantly their ability to meaningfully affect AOD abuse and related destructive behaviors in their homes, schools, and community.