A program to address the special needs of drug-exposed children

The Ravenswood-Stanford Coalition for At-Risk Children promotes school success by intervening with K-3 students identified as drug-exposed, either prenatally or environmentally, enabling them to remain in regular classrooms rather than diverted to special education. This goal was accomplished through professional partnerships, home involvement, individual intervention plans, special school-based services, and mentorships. Results from the project indicate these children are not significantly different from their peers; home involvement promotes better school linkages and reinforces positive behavior change; appropriate short-term, school-based services can increase academic and behavioral performance; dedicated volunteers working individually with students accelerate change processes; and these special at-risk students must be assigned to caring, supportive, and predictable classrooms.