Overview
Positive Action is a comprehensive program that addresses behavioral, social, and learning needs of students. Through a holistic approach, the program focuses on the ecological factors that involve school organizations, teachers, students, parents, and community members. The program is based on the intuitive philosophy that we feel good about ourselves when we do positive actions.
Target Problem
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Marijuana
- Tobacco
Setting
- School
Target Participants
- Kindergarten to 12th grade students
- Age group: 5-18
- Gender: Male and female
Assumptions and Outcomes
Main intermediate factor(s) assumed to influence substance misuse
- Attitude
- Social norms
- Self-efficacy
Underlying assumptions
- People determine their self-concepts by what they do
- Actions, more than thoughts or feelings, determine self-concept
- Making positive and healthy behavioral choices results in feelings of self-worth
Non-substance misuse outcomes
- Academic achievement
- Problem behaviors (violence, disciplinary referrals, suspension)
- School absenteeism
Program Structure
Lessons/activities
- For each grade level, there are about 145 lessons
- Each lesson is about 15 minutes
Staffing
- Providers/facilitators: In a school setting, the staff involved include the principal, the program coordinator, the Positive Action committee, faculty, and all support staff
- Training needed: No special prior training, qualifications or experience is needed; but, any individuals who have pertinent qualifications should be noted as additional assets
Previous Implementations
History
- Positive Action has been implemented in 50 states and several countries other than the United States
- It has been adapted to various contexts
Previous participants
- Asian
- Black or African American
- American Indian or Alaska Native
- Hispanic or Latino
- White
- Other race/ethnicity
Cultural relevance for Hawai‘i
0 | No contextual relevance |
1 | Place-based or ethno-culture |
2 | Place-based and ethno-culture |
3 | Place-based or ethno-culture pertaining to Hawai‘i |
4 | Hawai‘i-oriented contextual relevance |
Note: This framework was based on a study which examined several nationally recognized prevention programs to determine whether any may have cultural relevance to the context of Hawai‘i (Rehurer, Hiramatsu & Helm, 2008 ). We borrowed this framework and applied it to a more current list of EBPs. This approach looks at whether or not a program’s curriculum content was originated and developed with a certain place or culture in mind. A score of 0 (zero) indicates no specific reference to a place or an ethno-culture was included in the program’s development (no contextual cultural relevance) and a score of 4 (four) indicates that the program was developed either specifically for Hawai‘i or was developed somewhere else but was then also adapted for "local" and/or Native Hawaiian cultures. Placement of a program on the continuum was based on the sample population listed in their study reports and included considerations of 1) whether the program was ever implemented with populations similar to the racial/ethnic composition of Hawai‘i's population and 2) whether the program was ever adapted to meet the needs of a specified local or ethnic culture (for instance, was the curriculum has successfully implemented in Spanish or languages other than English?).
Ever implemented in Hawai‘i?
- Yes
Previous implementation in Hawai‘i
Location | Time Period | Organization |
Statewide | 1984–mid 1990's | Positive Action, Inc |
2010–2013 | Alu Like, Inc. | |
Hawai‘i County | 2011–2012 | Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council |
2011–2012 | Hawai‘i Future Farmers of America Foundation | |
Honolulu County | 2011–2012 | Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i |
2014–2015 | Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i Hale Pono Ewa Beach Club | |
Kaua‘i County | 2011–2012 | Hale 'Opio |
2011–2012 | YWCA of Kaua‘i | |
2012–2013 | Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii | |
Maui County | 2010–2012 | Boys & Girls Club of Maui |
2011 | Hoaloha 58 |
Is there any published study with Hawai‘i participants?
- Yes (see references)
Other
Contact Information
- For information on implementation: Keri Metzger, Phone: (800) 345-2974 ext 100, Email: [email protected]
- For information on research: Carol Gerber Allred, Ph.D., Phone: (208) 733-1328, Email: [email protected]
- Positive Action Website: http://www.positiveaction.net
Reference
- Beets, M. W., et al. (2009). Use of a social and character development program to prevent substance use, violent behaviors, and sexual activity among elementary-school students in Hawaii. American Journal of Public Health, vol 99(8)., pp. 1438-1445.
- Center on the Family, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. (2016). Prevention Programs Online Survey, 2014–2016 (Tool C2 & D5)
- Center on the Family, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. (2013). Substance Abuse Prevention Resource Mapping Project
- Flay, B. R., Allred, C.G., & Ordway, N. (2001). Effects of the Positive Action Program on achievement and discipline: Two matched-control comparisons, Prevention Science, Vol. 2, No. 2.
- Rehuher, D., Hiramatsu, T., & Helm, S. (2008). Evidence-based youth drug prevention: a critique with implications for practice-based contextually relevant prevention in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Journal of Public Health. 1(1): 52-61. Retrieved from http://health.hawaii.gov/hjmph/files/2013/09/Volume1.1.pdf
- Snyder, F., et al. (2012). Improving elementary school quality through the use of a social-emotional and character development program: A matched-pair, cluster-randomized, controlled trial in Hawaii, Journal of School Health, 82: 11-20
- Yuan, S., Sabino, S., & Wongkaren, T. (2013). Final evaluation report: Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant, State of Hawaii, 2006-2012. Honolulu, HI: Center on the Family, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
- Washburn, I. J. et al. (2011). Effects of a social-emotional and character development program on the trajectory of behaviors associated with social-Eeotional and character development: Findings from three randomized trials," Prevention Science, 12: 314-323.