Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways (RiPP)
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways (RiPP) is a school-based violence prevention program for middle school students. RiPP is designed to be implemented along with a peer mediation program. Students practice using a social-cognitive problem-solving model to identify and choose nonviolent strategies for dealing with conflict. RiPP emphasizes behavioral repetition and mental rehearsal of the social-cognitive problem-solving model, experiential learning techniques, and didactic learning modalities. RiPP sessions are taught in the classroom by a school-based prevention specialist and are typically incorporated into existing social studies, health, or science classes.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this program is to prevent violence among middle school students.
Impact
Rates of violence-related violations among 6th graders were 2.2 times lower in classrooms using RiPP than in non-participating classrooms. In-school suspension rates among 6th graders were also 5.0 times higher in the non-participating classrooms.
Results / Accomplishments
One study found that rates of violence-related violations among 6th graders were 2.2 times lower in classrooms using RiPP than in classrooms in the same school randomized not to receive the intervention (p < 0.01). In-school suspension rates among 6th graders were also 5.0 times higher in the control classrooms (p < 0.01). At 12-month follow-up, in-school suspension rates among 6th-grade boys were 3.0 times higher in the control classrooms. No statistically significant differences were found in in-school suspension rates for girls (p < 0.05).
Another study found that rates of violence-related violations were more than 2.0 times higher among 8th graders who did not receive the intervention than among 8th graders in the same school who participated in RiPP in 7th grade (p < 0.05).
Multiple studies also reported benefits in self-reported experience of violent and aggressive behavior for students who received RiPP compared with peers who did not receive the intervention, including less frequent violent behavior among 7th-grade RiPP participants at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.05) and lower frequency of physical aggression (p < 0.05).
Another study found that rates of violence-related violations were more than 2.0 times higher among 8th graders who did not receive the intervention than among 8th graders in the same school who participated in RiPP in 7th grade (p < 0.05).
Multiple studies also reported benefits in self-reported experience of violent and aggressive behavior for students who received RiPP compared with peers who did not receive the intervention, including less frequent violent behavior among 7th-grade RiPP participants at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.05) and lower frequency of physical aggression (p < 0.05).
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
Dr. Albert Farrell
810 W Franklin, rm 201
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia 23284
804-828-8796
afarrell@vcu.edu
https://psychology.vcu.edu/people/faculty/farrell....
810 W Franklin, rm 201
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia 23284
804-828-8796
afarrell@vcu.edu
https://psychology.vcu.edu/people/faculty/farrell....
Topics
Community / Crime & Crime Prevention
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Mental Health & Mental Disorders
Source
Youth.gov
Date of publication
Jan 2003
For more details
Target Audience
Teens