Evaluation of Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways (RIPP): a school-based prevention program for reducing violence among urban adolescents.
Evaluated Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways (RIPP)--a 6th-grade universal violence prevention program. Classes of 6th graders at 3 urban middle schools serving predominantly African American youth were randomized to intervention (N = 321) and control groups (N = 305). Intervention effects were found on a knowledge test but not on other mediating variables. RIPP participants had fewer disciplinary violations for violent offenses and in-school suspensions at posttest compared with the control group. The reduction in suspensions was maintained at 12-month follow-up for boys but not for girls. RIPP participants also reported more frequent use of peer mediation and reductions in fight-related injuries at posttest. Intervention effects on several measures approached significance at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. The program's impact on violent behavior was more evident among those with high pretest levels of problem behavior.
Farrell
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Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 842018, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284-2018, USA. afarrell@vcu.edu
Meyer
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White
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D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014768:Virginia