The protective function of after-school programming and parent education and support for students at risk for substance abuse

The effectiveness of after-school programming and parent education and support as a prevention approach for students who are at risk for substance abuse is addressed here. The after-school program played a “protective function” for those students who participated; they showed a maintenance of key resilience variables such as bonding to school, perception of parent supervision, and teacher-rated behavior. In addition, student and parent participation was positively related to changes in school bonding, perceived parental supervision, and teacher ratings of behavior.