Topic: Alcohol/Drugs/Tobacco
Target Population: Middle Childhood, Parents
Sector: School-Based
This program is for students in 4th through 6th grade and their parents.
Keep A Clear Mind (KACM), a school-based, take-home program, is designed to help students develop the ability and confidence to refuse and avoid drugs.
One randomized controlled study found minimal effects of the program. Intervention students perceived significantly less peer use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana and reported significantly less peer pressure susceptibility to experiment with cigarettes compared to the control group. However, there were no differences between groups in measures of self-efficacy; family expectations; knowledge; or intentions to use alcohol, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or marijuana.
KACM consists of four student activity books, four student incentives (i.e., bumper sticker, book mark, pencil, bracelet or key chain), and five parent newsletters. Students are given activity books to take home and complete with their parents. Topics include the following:
Each lesson begins with an introduction to the topic. For each topic, participants complete the following five activities at home with their parents:
Parents sign completed booklets, and students return booklets to school in exchange for one of the incentives. After students have completed the four booklets, newsletters are sent home to remind parents to reinforce program messages and encourage youth to practice the skills they learned from the booklets.
KACM was created in 1988 and has been delivered in more than 1,000 schools and agencies to over 1,000,000 youth and their parents.
Teachers facilitate this program, and no training is required. An implementation guide with suggestions for facilitating the program is available online at no cost. An optional 2-hour, on-site training is available for $1,000 per site. Free phone and email consultations are available from program developers as needed by facilitators.
Considerations for implementing this program include acquiring buy-in from teachers, students, and parents because it is important that a parent is willing and able to complete the booklets and activities with the child.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing KACM, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Classroom implementation time is limited, and time to complete activity booklets will vary. Students take home one activity book per week for 4 weeks. After all booklets are completed, newsletters are sent home, one per week (or one every other week), for approximately 5 to 10 weeks.
Program materials for each student cost $4.35 and include four activity booklets, four student incentives, and five parent newsletters. Customers are encouraged to order sets in multiples of 50. T-shirts are also available for $6.95 each. Please visit https://www.keepaclearmind.com/drug-education-store/ for more information.
To move KACM to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 or Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact the Center for Evidence-Based Programming by phone 1-501-293-0265, email evidence_based@yahoo.com, or visit https://www.keepaclearmind.com/contact-us
Werch, C. E., Young, M., Clark, M., Garrett, C., Hooks, S., & Kersten, C. (1991). Effects of a take-home drug prevention program on drug-related communication and beliefs of parents and children. The Journal of School Health, 61(8), 346-350. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb07414.x
