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Programs
and Strategies for Positive Behavior:
Early Intervention Programs & Strategies:
Pact
Student
Population Served
The program targets students between ages 12 to 16 who have a history
of violence, victimization, or exposure to violence. Teachers also
can refer students to the program who have behavioral problems and
seem to lack skills in relating to peers. Although the program was
designed for African American youth, the program's techniques have
been used with youth from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.
Program
Description
Positive Adolescent Choices Training (PACT) aims to reduce the risk
of students exhibiting violent behavior or becoming victims of violence
by teaching adolescents social and anger management skills to use
in conflict situations (Hammond et al, 1990). PACT provides a framework
for conducting violence prevention groups that is specifically designed
for African American youth. The program uses a series of three instructional
videotapes, which contain vignettes of a conflict situation and
demonstrates skills that could be used to diffuse a potentially
violent situation. Groups of 10 students or less work with a group
leader to discuss the videos and engage in role-play and group discussion.
Target skills include giving negative feedback or expressing criticism
calmly, reacting appropriately to the criticism or anger of others,
and identifying problems and solutions. A formal evaluation of PACT
found a significant reduction in the physical aggression displayed
at schools by students participating in intensive curriculum, as
well as fewer violence-related juvenile court charges than a comparable
group of students who had not participated in the PACT curriculum
(Dwyer and Osher, 2000).
Training
& Support Information
A video-based staff training program, program guide, and the three
videos for students, which contain real-life and culturally relevant
conflict situations can be purchased through Research Press. Visit
the Research Press website at www.researchpress.com
for more information about PACT materials. In addition, the developers
of the program can provide in-service training, consultation, or
workshops.
Contact
Information
Rodney Hammond and Betty Yung
Ellis Human Development Institute
Wright State University
9 N. Edwin C. Moses Boulevard
Dayton, OH 45407
Phone: (937) 775-4300
Fax: (937) 775-4323
E-mail: rp@researchpress.com
E-mail: betty.yung@wright.edu
Website: www.researchpress.com
Research
Press
Department 21W
PO Box 9177
Champaign, IL 61826
Phone: (800)519-2707
Fax: (217)352-1221
References & Additional Resources
Dwyer, K., & Osher, D. (2000). Safeguarding our children:
An action guide.Washington, DC: U.S. Departments of Education
and Justice, American Institutes for Research.
Hammond,
R. et al. (1990). Positive Adolescent Choices Training (PACT). This
report was gathered by the AASCU/ERIC for the Model Programs Inventory
Project. (ERIC document number ED 321 658).
Yung,
Betty R. ; Hammond, W. Rodney. Breaking the cycle: A culturally
sensitive violence prevention program for African-American children
and adolescents. In: Lutzker, John R (Ed.). (1998). Handbook
of child abuse research and treatment.; p. 319-340. New York,
NY, US: Plenum Press.
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