Positive youth development : the effects of a resiliency-based afterschool program

Abstract

Examined the impact of an after-school program using 19 5th and 6th graders at an elementary school in Central New York state with goals to increase participants’ resiliency, reduce aggressive occurrences, and increase academic performance. A quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was used. Project used the Resiliency Attitudes and Skills Profile (RASP), behavioral referrals to the principal’s office, and teacher survey responses. Results showed that after-school program participants showed a significant increase in resiliency scores, a decrease in behavioral referrals, and the program was academically helpful to the students from the qualitative feedback received.