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Model Program

Why Try Program

PO Box 970907
Orem, UT 84097
http://www.whytry.org

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Contact Information:
Christain Moore
Director
866.949.8791
christian@whytry.org

Program Specification:

Emphasis:

Gender:

Rating:

Prevention
Intervention

Both

Moderate Evidence of Effectiveness

Age/Grade Level:

Target Settings:

Target Groups:

Middle School
High School

Rural
Urban
Suburban
Inner City

Clusters/Groups

Ethnicity:

Other Participation Criteria:

All Ethnicities

Description:

The Why Try Program is a strength-based approach to helping youth overcome their challenges and improve outcomes in the areas of truancy, behavior, and academics. Youth are taught social and emotional principles through a series of 10 pictures that teaches a discrete principle. These visuals are then reinforced by music and physical activities.

Program Descriptors Include:
Academic Improvement, Attendance/Truancy, Counseling/Advisories/Coaches, Literacy Development, Students with Disabilities, Study Skills, Substance Abuse, Life Skills Training

Starting Date: 1996
Students Served Per Year: 500+
Last Verified: 2009

Risk Factors:

Protective Factors:

Program addresses the following:

Individual factors

  • Has a learning disability or emotional disturbance
  • Low achievement
  • Retention/overage for grade
  • Poor attendance
  • Lack of effort

Program promotes the following:

Relationships

  • Opportunities and rewards for pro-social involvement
  • Involvement with positive peer activities

Creativity

  • Problem-solving skills

Program Resources:

Annual Cost:

The annual cost range of the program is less than $25,000 or less than $500 per student.

Funding Sources Include:

Program Staff Includes:

Unspecified

Teachers
Counselors
Social Workers

Materials Used:

Supporting / Partner Organizations:

Instructional Texts/Manuals

Unspecified

Evaluation Information:

Students who completed the Why Try Program showed significant improvement in GPA, had fewer absences that the control group, and showed significant reduction in number of failed courses.

How evaluation data was collected:
Outside experimental studies
Data collected and analyzed at school/district level
Data collected and analyzed at state or organizational level

Additional Evaluation Information:
http://www.whytry.org/research.php