Improving outcomes for at-risk youth: findings from the Prodigy Cultural Arts Program.

Through this study the authors evaluate the Prodigy Cultural Arts Program, an early prevention program for adjudicated youth. A quasi experimental pre- and posttest was conducted. A significant reduction in mental health symptoms (particularly for females) and behavioral dysregulation (particularly for males), and increases in academic performance and family functioning were found. There was also a relationship between decreased mental health symptomology and perceived academic performance. The Prodigy Cultural Arts Program appears to be successful in intervening with youth who present challenges to the juvenile justice system due to the complexity of their mental health symptoms, behavioral regulation difficulties, and/or gender.