Health Wise Curriculum (South Africa)

http://www.personal.psu.edu/llc7/HealthWise_Curriculum.htm

Initiative Description: 12 eighth grade lessons and 6 ninth grade booster lessons are delivered by teachers over two to three regularly scheduled class periods. In addition to the school-based curriculum, two Youth Development Specialists coordinate the utilization of school and community resources and opportunities. Lessons are aimed at developing social-emotional skills such as decision-making and stress and anger management, promoting prosocial attitudes, increasing knowledge and skills in regard to substance use and sex and encouraging engagement in personally meaningful healthy free time experience

Study Results: Delayed the onset of polydrug use.

Reference: Tibbits, M. K., Smith, E. A., Caldwell, L. L., & Flisher, A. J. (2011). Impact of HealthWise South Africa on polydrug use and high-risk sexual behavior. Health Education Research, 26(4), 653–663. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyr024

Level of Evidence: Very Good