Biomedical subjects

Denise C Gottfredson

Publications and source records attributed to Denise C Gottfredson.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court: 3-year self-report outcome study.

This study reports results from interviews with 157 research participants who were interviewed 3 years after randomization into treatment and control conditions in the evaluation of the Baltimore City Drug Treatment Court. The interviews asked about crime, substance use, welfare, employment, education, mental and physical health, and family and social relationships. Program participants reported less crime and substance use than did controls. Few differences between groups were observed on other outcomes, although treatment cases were less likely than controls to be on the welfare rolls at the time of the interview. Effects differed substantially according to the originating court.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Challenges in disseminating model programs: a qualitative analysis of the Strengthening Washington DC Families Program.

This article discusses the challenges faced when a popular model program, the Strengthening Families Program, which in the past has been implemented on a smaller scale in single organizations, moves to a larger, multiorganization endeavor. On the basis of 42 interviews conducted with program staff, the results highlight two main themes that address program and organizational characteristics. The themes relate to the cultural relevance of the program, the accessibility of program partners, the organization of program services, and the coordination of program activities. The article also offers a discussion of how to better prepare sites for program delivery. This discussion focuses explicitly on the need for good communication among program partners, extensive community outreach, and the ability to secure additional resources.

Diffusion of Innovation↗

PubMed2004

Do after school programs reduce delinquency?

After school programs (ASPs) are popular and receive substantial public funding. Aside from their child-care and supervision value, ASPs often provide youth development and skill-building activities that might reduce delinquent behavior. These possibilities and the observation that arrests for juvenile crime peak between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on school days have increased interest in the delinquency prevention potential of ASPs. This study examined effects of participation in ASPs conducted in Maryland during the 1999--2000 school year and the mechanism through which such programs may affect delinquent behavior. Results imply that participation reduced delinquent behavior for middle-school but not for elementary-school-aged youths. This reduction was not achieved by decreasing time spent unsupervised or by increasing involvement in constructive activities, but by increasing intentions not to use drugs and positive peer associations. Effects on these outcomes were strongest in programs that incorporated a high emphasis on social skills and character development.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Characteristics of effective school-based substance abuse prevention.

This study summarizes, using meta-analytic techniques, results from 94 studies of school-based prevention activities that examined alcohol or other drug use outcomes. It set out to determine what features of school-based substance abuse prevention programs are related to variability in the size of program effects, It asked (1) Which populations (e.g., high risk vs. general population) should be targeted for prevention services? (2) What is the best age or developmental stage for prevention programming? (3) Does program duration matter? and (4) Does the role of the person delivering the service (e.g., teacher, law enforcement officer, peer) matter? The results suggest that targeting middle school aged children and designing programs that can be delivered primarily by peer leaders will increase the effectiveness of school-based substance use prevention programs. The results also imply that such programs need not be lengthy. The evidence related to the targeting issue is sparse, but suggests that, at least for programs teaching social competency skills, targeting higher risk youths may yield stronger effects than targeting the general population. Suggestions for future research are offered.

Adolescent↗