Across Ages
An Evidence-Based Practice
This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.
Description
Across Ages is a mentoring initiative targeting youth 9 to 13 years of age. It includes four components: (1) elders mentoring youth, (2) youth performing community service, (3) youth participating in a life skills/problem-solving curriculum, and (4) monthly activities for family members. Across Ages can be implemented as a school-based or after-school program. Targeted youth reside in communities with no opportunities for positive free-time activities and few positive adult role models; may be in kinship care due to inability of birth parents to care for them, often because of incarceration or substance use; and have poor school performance and attendance.
The project was originally funded in 1991 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) as a school- and community-based demonstration research project and was replicated in Philadelphia and West Springfield, MA, from 1995 to 1998. Today, more than 30 replication sites span 17 States.
The project was originally funded in 1991 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) as a school- and community-based demonstration research project and was replicated in Philadelphia and West Springfield, MA, from 1995 to 1998. Today, more than 30 replication sites span 17 States.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this program is to enhance the resiliency of children in order to promote positive development and prevent them from engaging in high-risk behaviors such as substance use, early sexual activity, or violence.
Impact
Studies of the program showed that participants' reactions to situations involving drug use and their attitudes toward school, the future, and elders were significantly better than those without the intervention. Students in the program also had fewer days absent from school than nonparticipants.
Results / Accomplishments
An outcome evaluation of the program was conducted using an experimental study design. Reactions to situations involving drug use were measured using the Across Ages Youth Survey, a paper-and-pencil instrument. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: Across Ages, Across Ages without the mentoring component, or a control condition providing no intervention. Reactions to situations involving drug use were significantly better in the Across Ages group than the control group (p=0.042). In addition, the composite score on attitudes toward school, the future, and elders was significantly better in the Across Ages group than the Across Ages without mentoring group (p=0.002) and the control group (p=0.038). Students in the Across Ages group also had fewer days absent from school than those in both the Across Ages without mentoring group and the control group (p=0.01).
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
Primary Contact
Andrea S. Taylor, Ph.D.
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
1601 North Broad Street, Room 206
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-6708
http://acrossages.org/
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
1601 North Broad Street, Room 206
Philadelphia, PA 19122
(215) 204-6708
http://acrossages.org/
Topics
Health / Children's Health
Community / Social Environment
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Community / Social Environment
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Organization(s)
Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
Date of publication
1996
Date of implementation
1991
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Teens