Institute for Community Research

Youth Action Research Institute

Summer Youth Research Institute

Sexual Minority Youth Action Research Project

Youth Action Research for Prevention (YARP)

Diffusing Youth-Based PAR for Prevention Model

Education and Advocacy Project

Diffusing Youth-Based Participatory Action Research for Prevention Model
Research Method: Participatory Action Research
Project Staff: Victor Pacheco, B.F.A., Prevention Research Educator, Jean-Andre Constant, MSW, Prevention Research Educator
Grant: Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Dates of Study: Ongoing

Abstract
After-school programs at schools and other community-based organizations often face challenges in providing substantive education and prevention programming for at-risk urban youth. ICR's participatory action research (PAR) training and prevention model is a unique approach that provides urban, often hard-to-reach youth with research, problem-solving and team-building skills while at the same time learning about and designing answers to problems that affect them directly. Youth often work on research issues focused on alcohol, violence, relationships, drug and sex-risk. The Diffusing Youth-Based Participatory Action Research for Prevention project, part of the Youth Action Research Institute (YARI) is manualizing and piloting a condensed version of ICR's Youth-Based PAR for Prevention curriculum by working with youth in after-school settings in four sites in Hartford, Connecticut. Our focus for this year is on integrating the abbreviated model with Century 21 school-based programming, which will have application to other communities and settings throughout the state.

Project Goals and Objectives


	Finalize the development of an abbreviated Youth Action Research Institute (YARI) action research curriculum for youth, adaptable to a variety of settings
	Develop an implementation manual for conducting action research in a short-term program
	Work to develop the action research curriculum into a model prevention program applicable to settings and sites throughout the state.

Project Details
During the 2002-2003 school year, project staff are working with 21st Century schools and community-based organizations with youth programs in an after-school setting to pilot an 11-week (3hrs/week) action research training for youth ages 15-20. The training is taking place in four sites in Hartford, working in collaboration with Yo! Academy, Weaver High School, and Hartford Public High School. Each group has 10-15 participants who are recruited through the school or organization, and runs through the 2003 school year. Two Prevention Research Educators "model" the intervention and work with Youth Development Staff from host programs to build their capacity to replicate and/or extend the intervention with youth in their settings. All training takes place at the site. Youth are researching topics such as peer pressure, communication between school, parents and students, and child abuse.

Project Contact:
Victor Pacheco, B.F.A.
Prevention Research Educator

Project Staff:
Marlene Berg, M.U.P.
Associate Director, Training, ICR

Victor Pacheco, B.F.A.
Prevention Research Educator

Jean-Andre Constant, MSW, Prevention Research Educator

Link to Research Methods page

Links to other ICR projects:
Summer Youth Research Institute
Sexual Minority Youth Action Research Project
Diffusing Youth-Based PAR for Prevention Model
Education and Advocacy Project

External Links:
21st Century Schools
CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services