Methods:  The project partnered university, community services agency, and school district. Two specific schools were selected as a base fro program delivery. One school was mostly African-American, the other mostly Hispanic, both had poor results on standardized test scores and were in communities with high incidence of substance use and HIV. A community needs assessment served as the foundation for selection of age and ethnicity specific evidence-based programs. A pilot project was conducted in 2003-2004 to test the selected evidence-based curriculum to determine its efficacy in the target community. A comprehensive model was implemented in 2004-2005 that included use of two evidence-based curricula, a summer program, and that included Prevention Steering Committees (PSC) made up of community members to guide the content and delivery of programs. A train the trainer model was used to engage PSC members that included opportunities to observe the implementation of program, receive formal training in the specific program, deliver program under supervision, deliver program independently, and finally serve as role models for recently trained PSC members.

Results:  Data analysis indicates that no participants engaged in illegal substance use during the project. Family and individual protective factors have increased. The PSC model has promoted project sustainability.