Creating Lasting Connections

Targeted Age of Child: 9-17

Targeted Audience: Youth and families in high risk environments

Effectiveness Within Racial/Ethnic Groups, Gender and Settings:

• Evaluated for Caucasian and African-American youth
• Evaluated for male and female participants
• Evaluated in urban, rural and suburban settings
• Implemented with Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian youth

Program Description: This program emphasizes family strengthening in an effort to increase both parent and child resiliency, reduce adolescent ATOD use and provide on-going community support to youth and families.

Evaluated Outcomes:

• Improved youth social and refusal skills
• Delayed onset and decreased ATOD use by youth
• Improved family management and communication skills
• Improved parental knowledge of ATOD abuse
• Improved use of community resources by both parents and children

Number of Sessions and Format:

• 15 to 18 weekly Parent Sessions
• 15-18 Youth Sessions
• Optional 2-3 Combined Sessions
• 6 month follow-up case management services
• Designed for use through an existing community system (churches, schools, community centers) which can provide significant contact with parents and youth as well as links to other human service providers and community resources

Staffing:

• 2 part-time facilitators for parent sessions
• 2 part-time facilitators for youth sessions
• Formal training by program developer is highly recommended but not required

Cost: High

Registry Listings: SAMHSA, OJJDP, HAY

Contact Information:

Ted N. Strader
COPES, Inc.
845 Barret Avenue
Louisville, KY 40204
Phone: 502-583-6820
Fax: 502-583-6832
Email: tstrader@sprynet.com
Web site: http://www.copes.org