Teachers, guidance counselors, school nurses, and others in the school setting are in a prime position to identify young people at risk for substance use and violence. They can also connect students to (or provide) the necessary educational or therapeutic interventions, medical care, or social services. Strategies that target at-risk students and their families (e.g., family counseling) are most effective at enhancing protective factors and producing positive youth outcomes. Schools can offer these services in the school or through links to other social service agencies in the community.
Three family-centered approaches, in particular, have shown great potential for success: parent and family skills training, family in-home support and home visiting, and family therapy. When most effective, these approaches include:
components for both parents and children, together and separately
incentives for participation (e.g., transportation, child care)
follow-up for participating families
sensitivity to cultural issues in their design and implementation
