Residential Student Assistance Program
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The Residential Student Assistance Program (RSAP) is a substance abuse intervention program developed for high-risk adolescents (14 to 17 years old) living in residential facilities. The program is based on employee assistance programs that were used by industry to identify and aid employees whose work performance and lives had been adversely affected by substance abuse. It places highly trained professionals in residential facilities to provide residents with a full range of substance abuse intervention services. RSAP counselors work with adolescents individually and in small groups to help residents decrease their risk factors for substance abuse and increase their overall resiliency. The specific program components include (1) the Prevention Education Series. RSAP counselors conduct this eight-session substance use education program; (2) Assessment. Residents are seen individually to determine their level of substance use, family substance abuse, and need for additional services; (3) Individual and group counseling. RSAP counselors conduct a series of 8 to 12 group counseling sessions. Groups are differentiated by developmental differences, substance use patterns, and family history of substance abuse. Individual sessions are scheduled as needed; and (4) Referral and consultation. RSAP counselors refer residents who require assistance to treatment, more intensive counseling, or 12-step groups.
Goal / Mission
The goal of this program is to prevent and reduce substance use and abuse among high risk, multi-problem adolescents placed in residential child care facilities.
Impact
One evaluation showed that adolescents participating in RSAP showed significant reductions in their use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco from pretest to posttest measures.
Results / Accomplishments
The evaluation of RSAP employed a quasi-experimental design with two nonequivalent comparison groups. Adolescents participating in RSAP showed significant reductions in their use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco from pretest to posttest measures. For youths not reporting use at pretest, data regarding 30-day use at posttest revealed that 82% remained nonusers of alcohol, 83% remained nonusers of marijuana, and 78% remained nonusers of tobacco. For youths who reported using substances at the pretest, their posttest reports of use in the past 30 days showed that 72% reported no longer using alcohol, 59% reported no longer using marijuana, and 27% reported no longer using tobacco.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Student Assistance Services
Primary Contact
Student Assistance Services
660 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 332-1300
sascorp@aol.com
http://www.sascorp.org
660 White Plains Road
Tarrytown, NY 10591
(914) 332-1300
sascorp@aol.com
http://www.sascorp.org
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Adolescent Health
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Student Assistance Services
Source
SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
Date of publication
2000
For more details
Target Audience
Teens