This study reports on the multi-method longitudinal examination of a structured arts program (combination of theatre, visual and media arts) for youth, aged 9 to 15 years, from a low-income community in Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida. Evaluated were the extent to which the community-based organization could recruit and retain youth in the program and whether they demonstrated improvement with respect to artistic ability and psychosocial indicators. The results suggest successful recruitment and sustained attendance rates. The study employed a multilevel growth curve analyses of observational and behavioral outcomes which showed significant gains in artistic and social skills, and a significant reduction in emotional problems. The contention that community arts programs promote positive youth development is supported by this study.

Semistructured follow-up interviews were conducted with 32 Canadian youth ages 14 to 20years old; 5years prior, these youth had participated in a structured arts program. Given that little is known about the long-term effects of afterschool arts-based programs, interviews took a qualitative approach to delineate adolescents' experiences with the program and their subsequent development. The findings from the qualitative interviews suggest that skill acquisition, positive staff-youth relationships, development of team building, positive peer relationships, a sense of belonging, and program flexibility were pertinent to sustained positive youth development 5years following program completion. This article discusses the importance of follow-up studies and implications for future research and practice.

This study reports on the effects of a longitudinal structured arts program on Cana-dian and American youths ages nine to fifteen years, from low-income multicultural communities. The feasibility and transportability of a program that was extensively evaluated on a Canadian youth population were evaluated with a similar cohort of American youths. The American cohort was matched to the Canadian cohort on relevant baseline covariates through the use of estimated linear propensity scores. The effects of the programs on the two matched cohorts were assessed through the use of multilevel growth curve analyses. The results showed that propensity matching was successful in controlling for possible confounders and obtaining a matched sample balanced across covariates for the two samples. Estimated program effects showed similarities on the growth trajectories of the two cohorts on conduct problems, emotional problems, indirect aggression, self-esteem, and pro-social behavior. The overall conclusion is that the arts program based on a specific model was similarly beneficial to youths from both countries.

This study reports on the longitudinal analysis of a structured after-school arts program for Canadian youth, ages 9 to 15 years, from low-income communities where the relationship of peer social support, family interactions, and psychosocial outcomes is evaluated. Multi-level growth curve analyses suggest an increase in prosocial development with peer social support and a decrease in prosocial development when negative family interactions are present. Comparisons between matched controls, using estimated linear propensity scores, revealed significant improvement in prosocial behaviors for the intervention group. The structured after-school arts program was found to increase prosocial behaviors and bonding with peers for youth from low-income communities.

Objectives: This study reports on the concept and method of linear propensity scores used to obtain a comparison group from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth to assess the effects of a longitudinal, structured arts program for Canadian youth (aged 9 to 15 years) from low-income, multicultural communities. Method: This study compares 183 children in a community arts project to 183 children from a national longitudinal survey using propensity score matching. The variables included baseline scores of child-rated conduct problems, indirect aggression, emotional problems, self-esteem, and prosocial behavior and child gender, person most knowledgeable (PMK) education, PMK marital status, household income, and family functioning. Results: Mean score comparison showed that the groups were very similar on all covariates. Conclusions: Propensity score matching offers an alternative to true randomization that is cost-effective and convenient, particularly important for social work research in community-based organizations with a limited budget.

Data from the Edmonton Arts & Youth Feasibility Study (EAYFS) was used to ascertain the feasibility of engaging street youth in a structured community-based arts program and an outcome-based evaluation. The study engaged 23 street youth in a ten-week multi-media arts program focused on developing prosocial communication, team-building, and problem-solving skills. Results have shown that street youth are highly interested in artistic endeavors; will participate to the best of their circumstances; and will provide reliable data. The youth and staff reported improved art skills, problem-solving capacity, and prosocial communication as well as a decrease in drug use, depression, loneliness, and a greater sense of enjoyment about life. Strengths of the program included the arts media, the non-judgmental environment, and the support from staff. The study suggests that community-based arts programs for street youth could be subjected to a rigorous outcome-based evaluation.

We discuss some of the lessons the investigators learned during the development, implementation, and dissemination phases of the National Arts and Youth Demonstration Project (NAYDP). The lessons learned are relevant to various groups involved in large-scale, multi-site, community-based intervention studies: parents, youth, researchers, project staff, policy makers, and funders. Specific lessons learned include: (1) how to engage the community; (2) methodological lessons, including cross-site training and monitoring adherence to research protocol; (3) recruiting and sustaining involvement of parents and youth; (4) program development; and (5) dissemination strategies.

This article describes the methodology and program effects of a multicomponent model of interventions designed to prevent antisocial behaviour in secondary school students. Interventions included cooperative learning, classroom management, and peer tutoring, mentoring, and mediation. Data from the Secondary Schools Demonstration Project (SSDP) implemented in Ontario, Canada, schools were analyzed to assess whether the interventions had similar and/or differential effects on groups of students with low and high risks for antisocial behaviour. The study involved a two-group matched comparison before-and-after design. Data were collected at baseline for all ninth-grade students (average age 14 years) in the four schools, and from a subsample of the students at follow-up. The findings showed that the interventions generated similar improvements in the low and high-risk groups of youth. However, the positive effects were slightly more pronounced in the low-risk youth. The discussion proposes future directions for research and practice.

Data from the Ontario Health Survey were used to examine the relationship between levels of social support and general health, suicidal ideation, family functioning, and utilization of health services among Metropolitan Toronto cultural populations 16-59 years of age (N = 2684). The results of this study provided some support for the hypothesis that social support variables correlate with general health status. Results also show that being a visible minority immigrant is not a risk factor for any of the health outcomes considered here. This finding is not in accordance with the notion of social hardship, which visible minority immigrants purportedly experience in a predominantly white society. Overall, indicators of social support show stronger association with mental health outcomes than with physical health ones.

There is a propensity in the social work profession to base programmatic theories on knowledge derived from other disciplines. A term that has found wide acceptance in the profession of social work is the concept of quality of life (QOL). Over the last two decades QOL has emerged as an organizing framework for assessing health indices within themedical andmental health fields. In relation to QOL, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the concept in order to ascertain its congruence with, and potential shaping of, the values and ethos of the profession. The paper gives a clear and straightforward introduction to a range of work. The main objective is to examine the individual work of certain researchers and thinkers in their independent search for the methods of measuring subjective states. A review of these separate efforts will reveal an internal coherence and overlap of work that is responsible for the way QOL is presently conceptualized. (C) 2005 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

This study reports on the longitudinal examination of a structured arts program for Canadian youth, aged 9 to 15 years, from low-income communities. Evaluated were the extent to which community-based organizations successfully recruited and retained youth in the program and whether they demonstrated improvement with respect to artistic ability (combination of theatre, visual, and media arts) and psychosocial indicators. The results suggest successful recruitment and good retention rates. Multilevel growth curve analyses of observational and behavioral outcomes are presented Observer ratings showed significant gains in artistic and social skills. Comparisons with matched controls using estimated linear propensity scores revealed a significant reduction in emotional problems for the intervention group. The overall conclusion is that youth from low-income communities benefit from structured arts programs.

This article reports on a multi-method evaluation of a national arts program conducted over 3 years in five sites across Canada. Statistical analysis involve growth curve modeling of five waves of data and interviews with participating youth and parents. The results indicate that high-quality arts programs have a significant effect on children's in-program behavior and emotional problems. The findings from the qualitative interviews suggest that active recruitment, removing barriers to participation, and high parental involvement enhanced youth engagement. Perceived youth gains included increased confidence, enhanced art skills, improved prosocial skills, and improved conflict resolution skills.

Adopting a social ecological perspective, this study examined the role of adolescent personality and social traits as mediating mechanisms linking school culture with adolescent behavioural problems. Data were obtained from the self-reports of 1,100 grade nine students attending four southern Ontario high schools. Structural equation model results revealed that student exposure to an unfavourable school culture (marked by perceptions of low teacher and classmate support, student conflict, unfair school rules and disciplinary practices, and low student autonomy in school decision-making and affairs) was positively associated with low attachment to learning and peer approval of deviance each of which were positively associated with disciplinary problems, conduct disorder, oppositional-defiant disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity, and substance use. Low self-esteem emerged as a significant mediator in two models. Significant direct effects of school culture were found for most outcomes. Discussion focused on the significance of study findings for future program development and research.