Project Northland
« Back to list| Category | Type | Target Age Group | Setting | Outcomes | Source of Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promising Programs | Substance Abuse |
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Decreased tendencies to use alcohol
Less alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use |
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Description:
The goals of Project Northland are to delay the age when young people begin drinking, reduce alcohol use among young people who have already tried drinking, and limit the number of alcohol-related problems of young people. Alcohol is the focus of the Project Northland program because it is the drug of choice of American teenagers and inflicts the most harm during this age period.
The programs of Project Northland provide state-of-the-art prevention materials for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. These programs invite participation and experiential learning at home and in the classroom. Project Northland employs grade-specific tasks, exercises, and activities in a variety of highly engaging, interactive formats--such as comic books and posters--to reach young people at an age when they are most likely to try alcohol. Because this program includes important community components, it can be effectively implemented by schools as well as by community programs.
Project Northland has been shown to be effective in delaying and reducing alcohol use among young adolescents in the largest and most rigorous alcohol use prevention trial ever funded by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse. Furthermore, among those students who had not begun using alcohol by the beginning of 6th grade, reports of cigarette use and marijuana use were lower in those who participated in the Project Northland prevention programs.
Target Population
Project Northland curricula for sixth, seventh, and eighth grades provide a sustained and comprehensive prevention program for underage drinking during the middle school years. Each program builds upon materials presented and learned during the first year. For example, peer leaders are introduced in sixth grade and given even more training-and responsibilities in the seventh and eighth grades.
For more Information or to find Technical Assistance, visit:
Hazelden Publishing
http://www.hazelden.org/web/go/projectnorthland
More Resources
References and/or Published Evaluations
Project Northland is a CSAP (Center for Substance Abuse Prevention)-approved curriculum with proven outcomes. Overall, outcomes from an initial three-year test of the program show that, relative to the control group, students who participated in Project Northland demonstrated reduced levels of alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use and displayed more resilient behaviors.
Students who participated in Project Northland:
- Showed reduced levels of alcohol use
- 30% lower weekly drinking
- 20% lower monthly drinking
- Engaged in significantly less cigarette and alcohol use over time
- 27% lower use of cigarettes by the end of eighth grade
- 27% lower use of alcohol by the end of eighth grade
- Demonstrated markedly lower drug use by eighth grade. Intervention group students who never drank alcohol at the beginning of sixth grade showed
- 50% lower marijuana use by the end of eighth grade
- 37% lower cigarette use by the end of eighth grade
Outcomes of a Community-wide Alcohol Use Prevention Program during Early Adolescence: Project Northland. American Journal of Public Health, MS #94/1081. Anstine, MA, Pamela S., Finnegan, PhD, John R., Forster, PhD, Jean L., Komro, PhD, Kelli A., McGovern, PhD, Paul G., Perry, PHD, Cheryl L., Toomey, PhD, Traci L., Veblen-Mortenson, MPH, MSW, Sara, Wagenaar, PhD, Alexander C., Williams, PhD, Carolyn L., Wolfson, PhD, Mark.
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Additional Information
Provided by Project Northland, September 2010
- Has this program been replicated at other sites? If so, how many and where are they?
Program has been on the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) list of approved programs for ten years. The program is in use all over the United States.
- Is there a formal curriculum or program guidelines in place? What is the approximate cost for these materials?
Yes. Grades 6-8: Project Northland includes Curriculum includes Teachers Manual with CD-ROM, Audio CD, 2 Posters Training. Grades 9-12: The curriculum includes 42 casebooks (seven of each title), one set of six CDs, one teacher's manual with reproducible handouts in a three-ring binder, and 30 each of four parent postcards. Free Spanish translations are available for parent postcards.
The cost for the complete program for Class Action is $595.00 implemented in grades 9-12. Project Northland Complete Program Guide for Grades 6-8 is $549.99
- What kind of training and technical assistance is available for this program?
For both Project Northland and Class Action there is 3 day training and trainers travel to the location. The cost for the training is $6000, plus the trainer’s travel ($1500).
- Once the program has been implemented, can an organization obtain assistance with fidelity monitoring or quality assurance?
Yes. The Program Guide provides step-by-step instructions for administrators and program coordinators to implement the Project Northland program. It includes tips and resources to help with funding needs, family outreach, community mobilization, curriculum implementation, environmental change, program evaluation, and program sustainability. This compelling program activates learning at home, in the classroom, and in the local community. Includes Manual with CD-ROM and an informational DVD.
- Is a risk assessment tool typically used to identify referrals for this program? If so, which one?
Template pre- and post-tests are available; the pre-test provides baseline data, from which we can learn what is needed. Prevention programs and substance abuse programs are used. All students receive program through the Health Classes. The program teaches social norms and prevention and tools to use in situations with their peers.
- Which local stakeholders should participate to make program successful?
Grades 6-8: Classroom teachers, Counselors, School administrators, Parents, Community leaders, Community resource people, Prevention specialists. Grades 9-12: Classroom teachers, Counselors, Community Resource People, Prevention Specialists.
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