Prevention Effects of the Child Development Project

Abstract

The Child Development Project is a comprehensive school program to reduce risk and bolster protective factors among children. It includes classroom, school, and family involvement elements that, collectively, help schools become caring communities of learners-environments that are characterized by supportive social relationships, a sense of common purpose, and a commitment to prosocial values; that are responsive to children's developmental and sociocultural needs; and thatfoster their resilience when confronted with stressful events and circumstances. The program was implemented in elementary schools from six school districts around the United States. Similar schools from these same districts served as a comparison group. Analyses of data on problem behaviors over a 3-year period indicated that the program was associated with significant reductions in student drug use and delinquency. Effects were strongestfor students in the subset of schools that had made the greatest degree of progress in program implementation.