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The mission of One Great River media projects is to utilize emerging communication technologies to link knowledge
from the field of scientific prevention research with policy makers, key community leaders, and prevention practitioners;
including parents and youth. “Compared to control communities, Project STEP intervention communities
significantly improved in community organizational skills and implementation of evidence-based prevention programs, and these
programs had significant effects on youth drug use intentions and illicit drug use”.
Mary Ann Pentz, Ph.D., Principal Investigator Background History Project STEP One Great River developed a pilot teleconferencing series (the Satellite Wellness Action Network, SWAN). The series presented leaders from the field of scientific prevention research science in 1995-1996 (funded by the Frost Foundation Ltd) and in 1998-1999 (funded by the Louisiana Office for Addictive Disorders). Data collected from this pilot indicated promise and a collaboration was formed to conduct a research evaluation in diffusion. It included the following: · Mary Ann Pentz, Ph.D., (Director Center for Prevention Policy Research, University of Southern California) · J. David Hawkins, Ph.D., (Director Social Development Research Group, University of Washington) · J. Peter Bunce (Executive Director/Founder of One Great River/SWAN) · KTBS TV 3 (the regional affiliate of ABC in Shreveport, Louisiana). Research
Evaluation Funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse In 2001 Mary Ann Pentz Ph.D. won a competitive, 5-year research evaluation grant from the National
Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse to conduct “The Multi-State Prevention Teleconference Trial”.
The research trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of televised training on increasing community adoption and implementation
of evidence-based prevention programs and decrease adolescent drug use. Significant
Outcomes Accomplished The
research trial was titled Prevention Works: The Next STEP and involved prevention coalitions located in twenty-four communities
in five states. One Great River/SWAN and KTBS TV 3 produced the teleconference series. According to Dr. Pentz, “compared
to control communities, STEP intervention communities significantly improved in community organizational skills and implementation
of evidence-based prevention programs, and these programs had significant effects on youth drug use intentions and illicit
drug use.” Successful outcomes have been published by Dr. Pentz in peer- reviewed, scientific journals. Current
One Great River Pilot Media Projects Currently,
One Great River and KTBS TV 3 are planning a media series aimed at promoting conservative norms among parents regarding underage
alcohol use in the Ark-La-Tex region. The plan is to disseminate science-based information about the harmful, developmental
consequences of alcohol use among children and youth. One Phone (318) 798-0880
Email: Admin@onegreatriver.org
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