Program Profile: SAM (Solution, Action, Mentorship) Program for Adolescent Girls

This is a school-based, substance-use-prevention program for adolescent girls, which uses solution-focused brief therapy and community and peer mentorship. The program is rated Promising. Program participation was shown to have a statistically significant effect on lowering drug use, improving social competence, increasing knowledge surrounding drug use, and increasing negative attitudes toward drug use. The program had no statistically significant effect on grade point average or self-esteem.

A Promising rating implies that implementing the program may result in the intended outcome(s).

Program Goals/Target Population

The SAM (Solution, Action, Mentorship) Program is a school-based, substance-use-prevention program that targets adolescent girls in middle school. The objective of SAM is to change participants’ drug-using behaviors through group therapy. Specifically, the program aims to reduce substance use, increase negative attitudes toward drug use, increase knowledge of the physical symptoms of drug use, and increase student achievement and self-esteem.

Program Components

The program consists of solution-focused brief therapy (de Shazer 1988; Metcalf 1995), action-learning techniques (Jackson 1995), and community and peer mentorship.

The program includes weekly 1-hour group sessions for seven or eight students, which are conducted for 16 weeks. Each student session consists of action-learning lessons, discussions, and guest speakers who are usually community and peer mentors. These sessions are then followed by private (school counselor and students only) solution-focused, brief therapy sessions using the Metcalf (1995) model.

The action-learning group lessons focus on issues related to identity formation (Erikson 1968) and are facilitated by one school counselor, five community mentors, and three high school student mentors. Topics such as goal setting, career exploration, drug information, peer-pressure resistance, decision-making, and relationships are discussed.

Following the action-learning group lessons, the mentors leave, and the school counselor conducts the group counseling sessions using solution-focused brief therapy. These sessions are spontaneous, allowing for the incorporation of material to be unique to each participant.

Parents participate in two meetings (one prior to program implementation and one at the conclusion of the program) that are conducted by the school counselor.

Program Theory

The SAM Program is based on the following theoretical approaches: identity formation theory (Erikson 1968); social influence theory; social learning theory, which is incorporated through mentorship and parent involvement (Bandura 1986); and cognitive–behavioral strategies, which are incorporated into the solution-focused brief therapy (Botvin et al.1990). 

Study 1

Froeschle, Smith, and Ricard (2007) used a randomized controlled trial to test the effect of the SAM (solution, action, mentorship) Program on educational, substance use, and social outcomes among adolescent girl participants. Forty students were randomly assigned to the program group, and 40 students were randomly assigned to the control group. Of the students in the program group, 22 were Mexican American, 16 were white, and 2 were Black. The control group consisted of 21 Mexican American, 16 white, and 3 African American females. About half of the students in each group were eligible for the school’s free- or reduced-lunch programs. Prior to completion of the study, eight students in the program group and seven students in the control group dropped out.

Four instruments were administered to students before and 4 months after the intervention. Instruments included the American Drug and Alcohol Survey (ADAS), the Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory–Adolescent Version 2 (SASSI–A2), the Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale–Version 2 (PHCSCS–2), and a knowledge exam. Additionally, information was collected on grade point averages and number of teacher-written office referrals for each participant prior to and following the intervention.

To determine statistical significance, a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted using pretests as a covariate, group membership (placement in control or program groups) as the factor variable, and scores on the eight posttest scales as the dependent variables. Univariate statistics (ANCOVAs) were run as a follow up to determine which of the dependent variables were related to group participation and had a statistically significant effect. No subgroup analyses were conducted.

For the Froeschle, Smith, and Ricard (2007) study, community and high school mentors were selected in conjunction with district staff. Criteria for selection of the community mentors included attendance at two counselor-led training sessions, passing a criminal background check conducted by district administration, current success in educational or professional endeavors (including current employment and/or advanced degrees), recommendation by a district employee, and the desire to assist adolescent girls. 

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

These sources were used in the development of the program profile:

Following are CrimeSolutions-rated programs that are related to this practice:

Formal Mentoring to Prevent Youth Substance Use

This practice encompasses programs that provide youths with formal supportive relationships and various positive, community-based activities and experiences to reduce their need to use alcohol and/or drugs. The practice is rated Effective for reducing the likelihood of alcohol initiation and reducing the likelihood of drug use initiation.

Evidence Ratings for Outcomes

	Drugs & Substance Abuse - Alcohol
	Drugs & Substance Abuse - Multiple substances

Why might a practice's outcome ratings differ from the ratings of specific programs encompassed by that practice?