Reconnecting Youth is an elective class within a general education high school curriculum modeled as a Personal Growth Class (PGC). Designed to reduce adolescent drug involvement, and increase school performance and emotional well-being, the PGC integrates two key components: building social support within small group activities and life-skills training. The component on social support building promotes the development of teacher-student relationships, positive peer culture, and group network support. The component on life-skills training focuses on self-esteem enhancement and the development of decision making, personal control (stress, depression, and anger management), and interpersonal communication skills. Problem-specific skills are delivered within each unit and applied to the central program goals of reduced drug involvement, improved school performance, and mood management. Reconnecting Youth was highlighted in the U.S. Department of Education’s First Annual Report on School Safety and in the Drug Strategies publication, Safe Schools, Safe Students: A Guide to Violence Prevention Strategies.

Target Population

- Grade Level: from  Ninth grade to  Twelfth grade