Funding from substance abuse prevention sources pays for the prevention specialist who serves all seven schools. An evaluation component was built into the program, and an outside evaluation was completed by Boise State University. When the group receiving services was compared with the control group, the treatment group demonstrated significant improvement in grades and significant decreases in school absences. School performance improved according to teachers. Child protection complaints dropped dramatically during and following intervention.
Families seem to be using resources to help improve parenting skills.
Family satisfaction surveys rated services very high, and school principals indicated high levels of satisfaction with the program. Seventy-seven percent of the program expenditures were for basic needs, such as rent, clothing, food, medical needs, and utilities. Nearly all families received case management services for the 90 days their cases were open. The severity of cases varied. For instance, a single-parent mom with five young children was severely depressed and near homelessness.