Life Skills Training (LST)

« Back to list

Category	Type	Target Age Group	Setting	Outcomes	Source of Rating
Proven Programs	Substance Abuse	Middle School	Classroom Community	50%-75% reduction in tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use	Close Blueprints for Violence Prevention (Blueprints) The Blueprints for Violence Prevention list has been developed by a research team headed by Delbert Elliott, Ph.D. at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado. For Blueprints to certify a brand name program as “model,” the program must demonstrate its effects on problem behaviors with a rigorous experimental design, show that its effects persist after youth leave the program and be successfully replicated at least once. In order for a brand name program to be certified as “promising,” the program must demonstrate effects using a rigorous experimental design. The Blueprints Web site (www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/) lists 11 “model” programs and 19 “promising” programs. Selection Criteria: Lasting positive effects in well designed evaluations & emphasis on replication. Applicability:  Excellent for crime, violence, delinquency & substance abuse. Reliability:  Excellent Currency:  Up to Date Advantages:  Easy to use. Plentiful peer and tech support. Predictability of outcomes. Limitations:  Covers only a small number of brand name programs. Blueprints Close Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy (Top Tier) The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy was created to assess social interventions for scientifically demonstrated effectiveness in the areas of early childhood development, education, youth development, crime and violence prevention, substance abuse, mental health, employment and welfare, and international development. In association with the coalition, the “Top Tier” designation is being developed under the guidance of a distinguished advisory group, for programs and strategies “that have been shown, in well-designed randomized controlled trials, to produce sizeable, sustained effects on important…outcomes[.]” As of the date of this publication, the Top Tier list has only three brand name programs that address crime, substance abuse or antisocial behavior: Nurse-Family Partnership, LifeSkills Training and Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care. The Coalition’s Web site is www.coalition4evidence.org/wordpress/ and the associated Web site for Top Tier is www.toptierevidence.org/wordpress/. Selection Criteria:  Uses very rigorous criteria specified by federal government. Applicability:  All social policy areas. Reliability:  Excellent Currency:  Just getting started. Advantages:  Most rigorous evidence. Limitations:  Small number of programs. Top Tier Close Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) uses the meta-analysis methodology to conduct evaluations of evidence-based practices, but also considers the cost of such programs and strategies to taxpayers and crime victims and weighs these costs against possible benefits (i.e., costs avoided through reduced crime). Programs and strategies are not ranked, but effect on recidivism is measured and the number of evaluations is reported. Recidivism, cost to tax payers and crime victims, and benefits are estimated using data specific to Washington State. For the purposes of this paper, all cost and benefit information refers to the analysis conducted by WSIPP for the State of Washington. Accordingly, the information should be considered an estimate for the potential cost and dollar benefits for California. The data used for this project can be found in the article by Elizabeth K. Drake, Steve Aos and Marna G. Miller, titled “Evidence-Based Public Policy Options to Reduce Crime and Criminal Justice Costs: Implications in Washington State” (2009), and can be downloaded from their Web site, www.wsipp.wa.gov. Selection Criteria:  Meta-analysis & cost-benefit analysis. Applicability:  Meta-analysis & cost-benefit analysis. Reliability:  Excellent Currency:  Analyses are revised every few years. Advantages:  Predictability of outcomes; ability to compare cost effectiveness. Limitations:  Costs & benefits are based on WA data. WSIPP

Description:

Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) is a research-validated substance abuse prevention program proven to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse, and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors.

Rather than merely teaching information about drugs, the Botvin LifeSkills Training program consists of three major components that cover the critical domains found to promote drug use. Research has shown that students who develop skills in these three domains are far less likely to engage in a wide range of high-risk behaviors. The three components are:

• Drug Resistance Skills
  Enables young people to recognize and challenge common misconceptions about tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Through coaching and practice, they learn information and practical ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug use) resistance skills for dealing with peers and media pressure to engage in ATOD use.
  
• Personal Self-Management Skills
  Students learn how to examine their self-image and its effects on behavior; set goals and keep track of personal progress; identify everyday decisions and how they may be influenced by others; analyze problem situations, and consider the consequences of each alternative solution before making decisions; reduce stress and anxiety, and look at personal challenges in a positive light.
  
• General Social Skills
  Students develop the necessary skills to overcome shyness, communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings, initiate and carry out conversations, handle social requests, utilize both verbal and nonverbal assertiveness skills to make or refuse requests, and recognize that they have choices other than aggression or passivity when faced with tough situations.

Target Population

Middle/junior high school students (6th-8th grade)

 

---

References and/or Published Evaluations

Spoth, R. L., Randall, G., Trudeau, L., Shin, C., Redmond, C. (2008). Substance use outcomes 5 1/2 years past baseline for partnership-based, family school preventive interventions. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 96, 57-68.

Griffin, K. W., Botvin, G. J., & Nichols, T. R. (2006). Effects of a school-based drug abuse prevention program for adolescents on HIV risk behaviors in young adulthood. Prevention Science, 7, 103-112.

Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W.,Nichols, T. R.. (2006). Preventing youth violence and delinquency through a universal school-based prevention approach. Prevention Science, 7, 403-408.

Spoth, R.L., Clair, S., Shin, C., Redmond, C. (2006). Long-Term Effects of universal preventative interventions on methamphetamine use Among Adolescents. Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

Griffin, K. W., Botvin, G. J., & Nichols, T. R. (2004). Long-term follow-up effects of a school-based drug abuse prevention program on adolescent risky driving. Prevention Science, 5, 207-212.

Griffin, K. W., Botvin, G. J., Nichols, T. R., & Doyle, M. M. (2003). Effectiveness of a universal drug abuse prevention approach for youth at high risk for substance use initiation. Preventive Medicine, 36, 1-7.

Fraguela, J. A., Martin, A. L., & Trinanes, E. A. (2003). Drug-Abuse prevention in the school: Four-year follow-up of a programme. Psychology in Spain, 7, 29-38.

Zollinger, T. W., Saywell, R. M., Muegge, C. M., Wooldridge, J. S., Cummings, S. F., & Caine, V. A. (2003). Impact of the Life Skills Training curriculum on middle school students tobacco use in Marion County, Indiana, 1997-2000. Journal of School Health, 73, 338-346.

Trudeau, L., Spoth, R., Lillehoj, C., Redmond, C., & Wickrama, K. (2003). Effects of a preventive intervention on adolescent substance use initiation, expectancies, and refusal intentions. Prevention Science, 4, 109-122.

Botvin, G. J., Griffin, K. W., Paul, E., & Macaulay, A. P. (2003). Preventing tobacco and alcohol use among elementary school students through Life Skills Training. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 12, 1-18.

_ Back to Top

---

Additional Information

Provided by John Miranda, Western Regional Coordinator, September 2010

• Has this program been replicated at other sites? If so, how many and where are they?
  Yes, we have a number of sites that are currently implementing LST with fidelity. Western Regional Coordinator John Miranda will be happy to put you in touch with any of the following sites:
  
  
  • Sun Street Centers of Salinas: http://www.sunstreetcenters.org/
  • Hemet Unified School District: http://www.hemetusd.k12.ca.us/
  • Twin Rivers Unified School District: http://www.twinriversusd.org/
    

• Is there a formal curriculum or program guidelines in place? What is the approximate cost for these materials?
  Yes. Curriculum set prices range from $175 to $275 and include one teacher’s manual and 30 student guides. Check the web site for a current price list.
  

• What kind of training and technical assistance is available for this program?
  Customizable training services are available through National Health Promotion Associates, Inc. (NHPA), a health consulting, research, and development firm developed by Dr. Botvin, the developer of the Botvin LifeSkills Training program.
  
  LifeSkills Provider Training Workshops prepare teachers, school counselors, prevention specialists, community youth educators, and other program providers to effectively implement the state-of-the-art prevention education activities and teaching strategies found in the Botvin LifeSkills Training program with confidence and fidelity.
  
  Each LifeSkills Provider Training Workshop plays an important role in enhancing the confidence and skill capacity of participants, resulting in optimal implementation of the Botvin LifeSkills Training program. LifeSkills Provider Training workshops can be delivered online, on-site or through open training workshops sponsored by NHPA.
  
  On-site hosted workshop:
  
  1. 2-day core LifeSkills Training - Cost: $4000 (this reflects a maximum of 20 participants per trainer). Each additional participant is $200 per person.
  2. 1-day Foundations LifeSkills Training - Cost: $3500 (this reflects a maximum of 20 participants per trainer). Each additional participant is $150 per person.
  3. Trainer expenses are in addition to the workshop fee and are estimated at approximately $1,800 (for a 2-day training) or $1200 (for a 1-day training). This fee covers travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals.
  4. The site is responsible for providing each participant with training materials (Teacher's Manual and Student Guide) that will be utilized at the workshop.
  
  Open Training Workshops:
  NHPA sponsors open Provider Training Workshops to the public throughout the year. For more information on open training workshops, call the Botvin LifeSkills Training National Training Department at 1-800-293-4969.
  
  The following costs apply to our open training workshops:
  
  
  • One-day Foundation Training Workshop: $235*
  • Two-day Core Training Workshop: $300*
  • Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop: $1070 (Training materials included)
    
  
  *Please note that travel and training material costs are additional. Contact our training department for more information 1-800-293-4969.
  
  Online Provider Trainings:
  Designed to help accommodate busy professionals, LifeSkills Online Provider Trainings can be accessed from your work or personal computer. For more information email OLT@nhpamail.com or call the National Training Department at 1-800-293-4969.
  
  LifeSkills Online Provider Training: $235 + training material costs.
  

• Once the program has been implemented, can an organization obtain assistance with fidelity monitoring or quality assurance?
  Yes. Available technical assistance support services range from e-mail and web-based assistance and support, to telephone assistance and support, to onsite consultation and formal technical assistance workshops.
   
  • Web-based: The LST website is designed to be user friendly, engaging and informative. Browsing through our website often provides the answers to the general questions that first-time implementers of LST may have. In addition, many of the same technical assistance issues are common to different providers and sites. Answers to these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) can found at: www.lifeskillstraining.com/faq.php
    
  • E-mail: If answers to TA questions cannot be found on our website, they can often be answered by e-mail by sending your questions to lstinfo@nhpamail.com. E-mail questions are answered by a member of our training support staff. E-mail allows for quick turnaround to clients' requests.
    
  • Telephone: For issues that are not address by the FAQs on our website and cannot be readily addressed via e-mail, technical assistance and support is available by telephone. Technical assistance and support staff members are assigned to specific regions of the country and are able to provide answers to a wide range of TA questions. Where appropriate, TA questions may be referred to one of our trainers.
    
  • Onsite consultation: For more complex technical assistance and support issues that cannot be addressed through email, our website, or telephone technical assistance and support channels, onsite technical assistance is available. This support service is customized to the needs of the specific site and delivered by certified LST trainers.
    
  • Onsite technical assistance workshop: For some larger implementation sites, a more formal and structured form of technical assistance can be both useful and feasible. The following are examples of formal technical assistance workshops that have been designed for sites with particular needs:
    
    
    • A Six-Step, Site-Based Plan for Implementing LST in a school or community
    • Cultural Approaches to Prevention Education
    • Classroom Assessment and Outcome Evaluation for the LST program
      
  
  In addition to technical assistance, here are links to our website with some tools you can use:
  • Evaluation Tools
  • Fidelity Checklists
  • Classroom Assessments
  • Planning Workbook
  • Curriculum Alignment Tools
    

• Can an organization obtain assistance with data collection or measurement of outcomes?
  Yes, NHPA offers the LST Evaluation Service for providers of the first level of any LST program. Click here for more information. (Tracy -- link to PDF I will provide, “LifeSkills Training Evaluation Service.pdf”)
  

• Which local stakeholders should participate in order for this program to be successful?
  Botvin LifeSkills Training has been successfully implemented by a variety of educators and program providers. Common program providers include:
  
  
  • Classroom teachers
  • School counselors
  • Prevention specialists
  • Health professionals
  • Mental Health Professionals
  • Social Workers
  • Community youth educators
  • Law Enforcement Officers
  • Older peer leaders

_ Back to Top