Subjective outcome evaluation of a positive youth development program targeting students with greater psychosocial needs

Abstract

The Tier 2 Program of Project PATHS (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programs) targets adolescents with greater psychosocial needs. The present study investigated participants’ subjective evaluation of the Tier 2 Program based on a sample of 34,081 participants in the 2008–2009 school year. Results showed that participants held positive views toward the program and program instructors, and perceived the program as helpful to the development of students. Regarding correlates of subjective outcome findings, programs that adopted the approach of volunteer training were perceived to be more positive than the other three types of programs in terms of participants’ subjective outcome evaluation; participants in higher grades rated the program more favorably and perceived the program as more effective than did participants from lower grades. These findings provide further support for the effectiveness of the Tier 2 Program for adolescents with special psychosocial needs.