PROCESS EVALUATION OF NEBRASKA TEAM TRAINING PROJECT

Background. A process evaluation of the Nebraska Drug Free School/Comm unity Residential Team Training Project is described. This training pr oject utilizes a ''system approach'' in the formation and implementati on of localized strategic (action) plans targeting alcohol and other d rug (AOD) abuse prevention. Methods. In June of 1990, training partici pants completed a pre-post survey in conjunction with the four-day tra ining. The majority of the participants (51.2%) were teachers, 19.2 pe rcent were parents, 13.6 percent administrators, and 9.6 percent were counselors. Results. Although the overall attitudes of the participant s (N = 125) were positive initially, they became even more so by the e nd of the training (N = 121). Prior to training participants felt they could have a significant impact on their local AOD abuse problem, and this attitude became more positive by the completion of training (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The Nebraska team training process immerses team members in an active planning process allowing teams to develop a plan of action for their school and community. During this process, partic ipants experience a positive growth in attitudes reflecting not only t he training experience itself, but even more importantly their ability to meaningfully affect AOD abuse and related destructive behaviors in their homes, schools, and community.