CONTACT: Nash McCutchen, (850) 645-7239; <nmccutchen@fsu.edu>

By Nash McCutchen
July 2008

FSU’S PROJECT KICK RECOGNIZED AS EXEMPLARY DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Project KICK, a program administered through the College of Education at Florida State University, was recognized by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) as the 2008 Exemplary Program for its work with the Bethel Family Life Center Boys and Girls Club in Tallahassee.

Project KICK, which stands for “Kids In Cooperation with Kids,” focuses on preventing drug abuse and criminal activity. 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 third consecutive year that Project KICK has been selected by the DCF and FADAA as a top recipient of the Substance Abuse Best Practices Recognition Program. Project KICK was previously selected as the 2006 Exemplary Program and the 2007 Best Rural Program for its successful service to at-risk youth and families in Leon County (2006) and in the Jefferson County community of Monticello (2007).

“Project KICK has impacted thousands of children and families over the past 18 years, and I am honored to be a part of it,” said Roberta Rubin, director of the project. ”Having been deemed a Best Practices Program for three consecutive years is a significant accolade that brings important publicity and support to the individuals we serve.”

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 drug-prevention and health-promotion peer mentoring programs. 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 older children in key focus areas of the program to serve as mentors to younger children. The family/community service component 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 children to achieve levels of competency in areas such as conflict resolution and drug prevention. Once their goals are met, the children are invited to participate in field trips and special activities.

To determine the success of the project, Project KICK staff evaluates the youth 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, protective factors, drug knowledge and awareness, and self-esteem.

Project KICK has served counties in the North Florida area for 18 years and will be showcased with other award-winning programs at the 2008 FADAA Annual Conference in August.

The Substance Abuse Best Practices Recognition Program recognizes providers that exemplify best-practice 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 the DCF and FADAA and has since recognized more than 70 programs.

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