REDUCING SUBSTANCE-ABUSE RISK-FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN THROUGH A TEACHER AS FACILITATOR PROGRAM

A Teachers as Facilitators (TAF) Program used classroom teachers as le aders of small groups that promoted social, emotional, and academic de velopment of children at high risk of adopting potentially destructive substance abuse patterns. The program was intended to increase partic ipating students' positive socialization experiences and academic achi evement by successfully integrating these students into the school's s ocial system. A longer-range goal was to increase students' sense of w orth as it affects their attitudes toward relationships with other peo ple and academic demands. Program results were: 1) school personnel we re found capable of accurately identifying and referring to the TAF Pr ogram children who were at risk of substance usage and in need of assi stance; 2) the TAF Program was effective in improving at-risk students ' perceived academic self-concept, but was less effective in increasin g students' perceived sense of social support; and 3) the program was endorsed by participating teachers, counselors, and administrators.