A dissertation completed at The Center for Education, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013
COMMUNITIES THAT CARE: THE PERCEIVED IMPACT ON SCHOOL DOMAIN RISK FACTORS Richard P. Weinstein, Ed. D. April 15, 2002
RETURN edited 7/24/02

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived impact of the Communities That Care Program on school domain risk factors and adolescent problem behaviors as viewed by school personnel who had participated in a Communities That Care Program.

The study examined which Blueprint Violence Prevention programs were most frequently selected, what method of data collection was utilized to assess program effectiveness, and whether school personnel perceived the Social Development Strategy as vital to building protective factors in students. The research examined whether the respondents had a difference in perception based on participating in a formal Communities That Care training program versus no training. The Pennsylvania Drug Free School Coordinators were directed a survey questionnaire that was completed by 441 respondents. The drug free school coordinators were designated as the individual most likely to be involved with a Communities that Care Program.

A variety of school personnel responded to the questionnaire including drug free school coordinators, superintendents, pupil services administrators, district level coordinators, building principals, assistant principals, counselors, teachers, and school social workers. The data were analyzed with Z scores and the Kruskal-WalIis test. Research questions were also assessed with frequency and percentage rate scores.

Respondents agreed on 9 out of 14 school domain risk factor questions suggesting that they had perceived that student risk factors had been reduced and that protective factors had been increased as a result of participating in a Communities That Care Program. Although the respondents did not agree with the statement that the Communities That Care Program helped to reduce substance abuse and violence in their schools, respondents agreed to the statements that delinquency, teen pregnancies, and school dropout rates had been reduced. The majority of the respondents agreed to the importance of the Social Development Strategy.

The respondents relied on a number of data collection methods to assess the effectiveness of their programs. Most respondents relied on existing Pennsylvania Department of Education Reports to assess program effectiveness. The respondents reported that they would recommend that other school personnel participate in a Communities That Care Program at a rate of 97.6%. However, further research is warranted on the impact of the Communities That Care Program on the reduction of adolescent violence and substance abuse as perceived by school personnel as the research reported in this study was not conclusive.

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