PAL® curriculum for school-aged youth achieves official certification as an evidence-based practice by the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Sep 13, 2011 Austin, Texas
The Peer Assistance and Leadership (PAL®) Program is proud to announce that based on results of independent studies, the PAL® curriculum and training program has gained official certification by the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP).
Formerly known as the National Registry of Effective Programs, the NREPP registry is a part of US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). This registry database is a classification system for mental health, substance abuse prevention and treatment interventions. Used as a first stop to assist local organizations in making well-informed decisions to determine interventions that fit the needs of their communities, NREPP is designed to identify, review and disseminate information about effective intervention programs.
For PAL® to obtain the NREPP certification represents a four-year review and rating process by independent experts of PAL® curriculum and results with data collected on active certified PAL® programs. This NREPP certification is significant because while there are tens of thousands of intervention programs available to choose from nationwide only 206 are NREPP certified.
As NREPP reports, independent evaluations show that the PAL® program is an effective strategy for dropout prevention. Study results also indicate that being part of a PAL® program creates positive changes in the following areas: academic performance, attitudes toward school, attendance, peer relations, decision-making, responsibility, concern for others, and leadership skills. Further studies demonstrate that the PAL® program benefits students who receive the peer support; they are less likely to engage in negative behaviors. This improves their chances for a successful academic completion thereby creating a positive foundation for future successes and careers.
ABOUT PAL®
PAL® is a professional service of Workers Assistance Program, Inc., a 501C(3) non-for-profit organization. Founded in 1980, the PAL® program addresses youth-related risk factors in schools such as absenteeism, bullying, dropout, gang participation, low achievement, substance abuse, suicide, teen pregnancy and other behavioral problems. PAL® provides a critical line of defense to these community issues both at school and in the home. The basis of the PAL® program is to build resiliency in youth by empowering students trained in the PAL® curriculum, called PAL®s, to be leaders and peer mentors to people their own age and younger. Under the guidance of their adult PAL® certified teachers, PAL®s use the skills they learn to create positive changes in their schools and communities.
Currently in Texas, PAL® can be found in over 1,770 middle and high schools representing over 60,000 students and 750 school districts. Due to its tremendous successes, PAL® is also utilized in schools in 14 additional states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
For more information about NREPP visit http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/ .
For more information about the PAL® program visit www.palusa.org .
Contact PAL at 800-522-0550 or via email at contact@palusa.org .
Press Contacts:
Tory Gant
PAL® Services Training Director
tgant@palusa.org
800-522-0550
Terry Cowan
WAP, Inc., CEO
800-522-0550
