%0 Journal Article %J Prev Sci %D 2014 %T Prevention system mediation of Communities That Care effects on youth outcomes %A Brown, Eric C %A Hawkins, J D %A Rhew, Isaac C %A Shapiro, Valerie B %A Abbott, Robert D %A Oesterle, Sabrina %A Arthur, Michael W %A Briney, John S %A Catalano, Richard F %K Adolescent %K Adolescent Behavior %K Child %K Female %K Humans %K Juvenile Delinquency %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Negotiating %K Residence Characteristics %K Social Welfare %K Social Work %K Substance-Related Disorders %K United States %X

This study examined whether the significant intervention effects of the Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system on youth problem behaviors observed in a panel of eighth-grade students (Hawkins et al. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 163:789-798 2009) were mediated by community-level prevention system constructs posited in the CTC theory of change. Potential prevention system constructs included the community's degree of (a) adoption of a science-based approach to prevention, (b) collaboration on prevention activities, (c) support for prevention, and (d) norms against adolescent drug use as reported by key community leaders in 24 communities. Higher levels of community adoption of a science-based approach to prevention and support for prevention in 2004 predicted significantly lower levels of youth problem behaviors in 2007, and higher levels of community norms against adolescent drug use predicted lower levels of youth drug use in 2007. Effects of the CTC intervention on youth problem behaviors by the end of eighth grade were mediated fully by community adoption of a science-based approach to prevention. No other significant mediated effects were found. Results support CTC's theory of change that encourages communities to adopt a science-based approach to prevention as a primary mechanism for improving youth outcomes.

%B Prev Sci %V 15 %P 623-32 %8 2014 Oct %G eng %N 5 %R 10.1007/s11121-013-0413-7 %0 Journal Article %J J Prim Prev %D 2012 %T Predictive validity of established cut points for risk and protective factor scales from the Communities That Care youth survey %A Briney, John S %A Brown, Eric C %A Hawkins, J D %A Arthur, Michael W %K Adolescent %K Adolescent Behavior %K Child %K Factor Analysis, Statistical %K Forecasting %K Health Care Coalitions %K Humans %K Juvenile Delinquency %K Risk Assessment %K Risk Factors %K Risk Reduction Behavior %K Substance-Related Disorders %K Surveys and Questionnaires %X

Community coalitions are a popular strategy to coordinate activities and resources to prevent adolescent substance use and delinquent behavior. Despite early evidence of their lack of effectiveness, a new generation of community coalitions has shown positive results in preventing youth substance use and delinquency. This success can be attributed to coalition decision making focused on reducing local risk factors and increasing local protective factors through the use of evidence-based prevention programs. A previous study using cross-sectional data established cut point values for scales measuring risk and protective factors on the Communities That Care Youth Survey (CTCYS) to identify high levels of risk and low levels of protection in communities on each scale. The current study extended this previous research by using longitudinal data to assess the validity of risk and protective factor cut point values in predicting substance use and delinquent behavior 1 year after risk and protection were measured. The findings demonstrate the predictive validity of cut points for risk and protective factor scales measured by the CTCYS and suggest their utility in guiding prevention efforts.

%B J Prim Prev %V 33 %P 249-58 %8 2012 Dec %G eng %N 5-6 %R 10.1007/s10935-012-0280-1