Grades: 6-7
Contact: Melanie McCarthy
Youth Violence Prevention Project, Virginia Commonwealth University
808 West Franklin St., Box 2018
Richmond, VA 23284-2018
Phone: 804/828-8793, FAX: 804/827-1511
RIPP has been tested in ethnically mixed populations. Key elements include working in small groups; problem-solving; identifying feelings; handling differences; peer mediation; clarifying values; dealing with prejudices; and avoiding, ignoring, defusing, and resolving conflicts. The problem-solving component includes several steps that students memorize and practice frequently. Students learn to stop, calm down, identify the problem and feelings about it, decide among nonviolent options (resolve, avoid, ignore, or defuse), do it, look back, and evaluate. An evaluation funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows RIPP significantly reduces fights and incidents of being threatened with a weapon.
CASEL,
Strength
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Model Program, (PDF)
Drug Strategies, 1998
US DOE Expert Panel,
Promising Program