Target Population

The original project and two replications were designed and tested on African-American, Latino, Caucasian and Asian middle school students (6th grade) living in a large urban setting. Subsequent replications (30+) have been adapted for Native American, Caucasian, Latino and African-American youth, ages 9-13, living in urban, suburban and rural settings.

Risk factors for targeted youth include:

• Economically disadvantaged   
• School failure
• Problem behavior in school;
• Few positive adult role models;
• Peer group engaged in risky behaviors
• Residence in communities with no opportunities for positive free-time activities;
• Youth in kinship care due to inability of birth parents to care for them, often due to incarceration or substance use.