A $624,812 grant aimed at Delinquency Prevention was awarded to Penn State Extension in Elk and Cameron Counties by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). According to Walter M. Phillips, Jr., chairman of PCCD, the funding is evidence of the commission’s commitment to advance the best juvenile prevention programs in communities across the state. Mr. Phillips states, “Investing in our youth, through these proven programs, yields long-term results that preclude a life of crime and save our state millions in adult incarceration costs.” Each of the 15 funded programs is a new initiative for the grantee’s community and was selected to address the unique needs of each area. The programs will be implemented over a four-year period.

Cathy Straub, 4-H youth development educator and author of the grant, says the money will bring the PROSPER program to the Cameron County School District and St. Mary’s Area School District. The PROSPER program – which stands for PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience – offers communities a selection of programs that are proven to prevent youth substance abuse and other behavior problems, strengthen parenting skills, and build family strengths. We will be implementing the blueprint Strengthening Families Program as the community-based program in both counties, and we will be implementing the research-based program “All Stars” in Cameron County and “Life Skills” in St. Mary’s school districts. Straub says, “We expect to serve 70 families per year with sixth and seventh graders the target age group for the youth.”

“It is only because we received the endorsement of the Cameron County and Elk County Family Resource Network Collaborative Boards that we were able to submit the application to PCCD,” states Straub. “The boards function separately, but in the last year initiated conversations to collaborate on projects that would enhance both counties. Both boards are a part of the Communities That Care process, which empowers communities to use advances from prevention science to guide their prevention efforts.” The risk factors, as determined through the Pennsylvania Youth Survey conducted by PCCD, are similar for both counties, and the Strengthening Families Program for parents and youth ages 10 to 14 (SFP 10-14) addresses these risk factors.

The Strengthening Families Program and PROSPER have been evaluated by researchers at Pennsylvania State University and Iowa State University. Analysis by the Partnerships in Prevention Science Institute at Iowa State found a return of $9.60 for every dollar spent implementing SFP 10-14. In addition to the benefits for those involved with PROSPER, everyone benefits by reduced costs to society caused by substance abuse and problem behaviors. This grant represents a saving of nearly $6 million in expenditures for alcohol or drug-related disorders, accidents, crimes. By preventing a single alcohol disorder, PROSPER saves roughly $119,000 over the life of the potentially alcohol-disordered individual.

Research also shows PROSPER produces many benefits for the families and youth who participate, and for their communities. Youth learn skills to deal with the stresses and pressures of school and peer relations and is effective in reducing teen problem behaviors like smoking, drinking, and drug use. Families become closer and learn to work together. Communities come together to make it all happen.