ABSTRACT
Say Yes First--To Rural Youth and Family Alcohol/Drug Prevention (SYF) was a 5-year, federally-funded U.S.D.H.H.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) project that involved 859 children in the class of the year 2000. The children in four rural school districts were followed from Grade 4 to Grade 8 from 1991 to 1996. Initial results in a previous publication showed significant lower drug usage in this cohort than comparison students. A follow-up of 120 SYF participants and 136 comparison students in high schools using the National Youth Survey (Follow Up Questionnaire) indicated lower usage of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs for the program students and lower lifetime prevalence of marijuana use for program vs. comparison students. SYF students had higher course grades, lower school absenteeism, more positive attitudes toward school, less trouble in school and less negative self-appraisal. Program students also reported greater participation in sports, more family communication and fewer disagreements or arguments with their parents.
Subject(s)
Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Rural Health Services , Substance-Related Disorders/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/prevention & control , Child , Child Health Services , Colorado/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Prevalence , School Health Services , Students , Substance-Related Disorders/etiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The Colorado Worksite Infant Feeding Survey was used to examine breastfeeding support policies and practices within Colorado businesses. Only 28.2% of survey respondents reported that their organization provided breastfeeding support services. However, the majority of businesses did offer benefits and services conducive to breastfeeding. There was a low frequency of positive responses related to incentives for increasing the provision of breastfeeding support services. The incentives receiving the highest frequency of positive responses were those related to employer benefits and needs, such as provision of information on successful breastfeeding support programs within similar organizations; provision of information on the benefits of breastfeeding to employers, including cost savings; and availability of tax credits for providing breastfeeding support services. Multiple approaches are indicated for increasing work-site breastfeeding support and for removing barriers to the achievement of Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding objectives for employed mothers.
Subject(s)
Breast Feeding/statistics & numerical data , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Mothers/psychology , Organizational Policy , Adult , Attitude to Health , Colorado , Female , Health Education , Humans , Infant , Occupational Health , Women, Working/psychology , WorkplaceABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To research effective drug prevention strategies for school-aged populations from drug prevention programs funded by the USDHHS Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP). METHOD: Nine directors and staff members from model CSAP-funded programs were interviewed. RESULTS: Fifteen strategies that focus on building trusted relationships, selecting well-qualified staff using existing communication networks, and providing timely evaluation feedback are discussed, with examples from the agencies cited. CONCLUSION: Formulating effective partnerships that support both the goals of the outside agency with drug prevention resources and the mission of a school can contribute toward effective school-based drug prevention programs.
