Impact of home-school liaisons on the reduction of risk factors for ATOD use among preadolescents

This study examined the impact of the Home-School Empowerment Program (HSEP) on the reduction of risk factors for substance abuse among preadolescents enrolled in two elementary schools serving students from neighborhoods marked by high levels of violence, family dependence on public funding, and reported alcohol and other drug use by youth. The project was targeted to children enrolled in grades 4–6. For that reason, the project was not expected to reduce actual ATOD use rates. Rather, the HSEP aimed to reduce risks associated with ATOD use. Specifically, it was hypothesized that reductions in four risk factors—poor academic achievement, frequent school absences, poor classroom adjustment, and low self-esteem—would occur for program participants, reducing their overall risk for substance abuse in later years.