TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) have announced this year’s Substance Abuse Best Practices Recognition Program recipients. Project KICK, a program administered by the College of Education at Florida State University, was recognized as the 2007 Best Rural Program for its program at the Boys and Girls Club in Monticello, Fla.

Project KICK, which stands for “Kids In Cooperation with Kids,” focuses on drug prevention and prevention of involvement with the criminal justice system. The program targets at-risk children between the ages of 5 and 18 with a “systems” approach that includes family, home, school and community, as well as the individual child.

The honor marks the second consecutive year that Project KICK has been selected as a recipient of the Substance Abuse Best Practices Recognition Program. Project KICK also was selected as the 2006 Exemplary Program by DCF and the FADAA for its programs serving at-risk youth and families in Leon County.

The Best Practices Program recognizes providers that exemplify best practices methods in substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment services, and whose efforts measurably improve service outcomes and the quality of life for Florida residents facing the challenges that result from substance abuse. Recognized programs are selected in a rigorous, competitive process based on research, evidence and practice.

The Best Practices Program was initiated in 2001 by DCF and the FADAA and has since recognized more than 70 programs.

“Receiving Best Practices recognition for the past two years is further validation of the contributions the College of Education and Florida State University are making in our local communities,” said Roberta Rubin, director of Project KICK. “I am so pleased that Project KICK is being highlighted, and I am hopeful that we will be able to share our strategies and positively impact many more children and families.”

Rubin and a team of graduate students from the College of Education address risk and protective factors for the children and families in the area through the Boys and Girls Club. The group administers peer mentoring programs emphasizing drug prevention and health promotion. The graduate students assist in every aspect of Project KICK -- from the implementation of interventions to developing research products for publication and analyzing research data.

The project has three major components -- peer mentoring, family/community service and achievement motivation. Peer mentoring trains the older children in key focus areas of the program to serve as mentors to the younger children. The family/community service aspect involves family members and offers services such as free counseling and consultation in the areas of behavior management and parent training. Achievement motivation uses a rewards system to encourage the youth to achieve levels of competency in areas such as conflict resolution and drug prevention. Once their goals are met, they are invited to participate in field trips and special activities.

To determine the effect of the project, the staff evaluates participants prior to the start of the program and again upon completion. The evaluations consistently have shown improvement in social skills, attitudes about conflict and conflict resolution, drug knowledge and awareness, and self-esteem.

Project KICK has served counties in the North Florida area for 17 years and was showcased at the 2007 FADAA Annual Conference, held in late August. Rubin represented the project and its practices to other professionals and organizations fighting drug abuse throughout the state.

###

For more stories about FSU, visit our news site at www.fsu.com