Darlene McClendon, coordinator of the Peer Intervention Program in Chicago from 1991-1993, describes how prevention programs can be tailored to meet the needs of different schools and communities. Excerpted from the video series Pathways to Prevention, videotape #1, The Mather High School Story (Chicago Public Schools and the Midwest Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities, 1994).
"Our belief was we wanted to build a program that would be unique to each school that developed it. We didn't want a cookbook approach to a program that each school would adopt. We wanted to present a program offer district support, stress the need for student leadership and involvement, empower the students through training of the staff. We stressed the importance of the staff outreach into the community and working with all aspects of the school and community."
This Critical Issue was researched and written by Richard Brooks, Director, Health Promotion Project, University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Date posted: 1996