Abstract
The present paper describes a four-year research effort aimed at developing preventive educational interventions for children in inner-city schools. The initial thrust of the programs was towards secondary prevention; identifying early childhood disorders and formulating consultation interventions to remediate the problems. Over time, the direction of the projects changed from an early secondary to a primary preventive orientation. In these later interventions, entire classes or groups of children were provided skill building experiences (e.g., social skills, problem solving techniques, or peer-tutoring skills). Other children were involved in programs designed to prevent the onset of smoking. Still others were provided skills to master critical developmental transitions. Examples of these latter preventive interventions included providing behavior management skills to a first time teacher in a first grade classroom, an orientation program to children transferring to a new school, and public speaking skills to children entering high school. The implications of switching the emphasis from early secondary to primary preventive programs are discussed.
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Jason, L.A., Soucy, G. P., & Gayewski, C. Home-letters as a technique in behavior management. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Association of Behavior Analysis, Chicago, May, 1977.
Anderegg, T., & Jason, L. A. Secondary prevention: Teaching cognitive self-control skills to elementary school children. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Association of Behavior Analysis, Chicago, May, 1977.
Jason, L. A., & Nelson, T. Engineering reductions in problem behaviors through environmental design. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Association of Behavior Analysis, Chicago, May, 1977.
Bednarz, D., Douglas, J., & Jason, L. A. Secondary prevention: Home notes, group contingencies, and other behavioral strategies with school children. Paper presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Association of Behavior Analysis, Chicago, May, 1977.
Press, S., Alvarez, J., Cotler, S. & Jason, L. A. The primary prevention of interpersonal problems in latency aged children. Paper presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association, May, 1981.
Jason, L.A. & Mollica, Schools: Long-term follow-up of a smoking prevention program. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis, May, 1981.
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The authors are particularly appreciative of the support offered by the many principals and teachers who were involved in the school interventions. Our thanks also to Frank Dinello and Robert Davenport for their suggestions and advice throughout all phases of these projects. We gratefully acknowledge Edwin Zolik's and Robert Brewer's valuable editorial advice on an earlier version of this article.
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Jason, L.A., Ferone, L. From early secondary to primary preventive interventions in schools. J Primary Prevent 1, 156–173 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01145311
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01145311