Research Shows SAVE Chapters Improve School Environments

Evidence is building that SAVE is an effective program. Research conducted with SAVE chapters and advisors revealed that incidents of violence decreased in many schools, and the number of weapons brought into schools has been reduced as well. The beliefs and attitudes of students towards violence show positive improvement. Knowledge and skills of handling conflicts without violence were gained, and youth become better informed of ways to not only be safe, but also to make their schools and communities safer. As reported by the Evaluation Training Institute in Los Angeles, California, students who participate in SAVE demonstrate increased self-esteem and confidence, conflict resolution, presentation/public speaking, and knowledge about different violence prevention strategies. Advisors report that they successfully involve students in organizing and implementing community activities, meeting weekly as a club, and making people aware of the program. Principals believe that students who participate in the SAVE program play an important role in creating a safe campus and community by practicing nonviolence, possessing positive attitudes, and being good role-models.

A recent qualitative evaluation on SAVE‘s positive influences on the students and the school environment was conducted utilizing the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health School Health Index (SHI), which is an on-line interactive assessment tool that school team members completed in order to identify a safety or violence prevention area for improvement. SAVE chapter members successfully developed and implemented programs to improve these identified areas. Success was determined through student-written success stories, a tool designed to show a program’s progress over time as well as its value and impact. These Success Stories reflected the efforts of SAVE students working to improve school connectedness, build respect, and establish a safer physical environment, as well as decreasing harassment and bullying at their schools.

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	SAVE Success Stories Evaluation
	SAVE Recognized as Model Program by National Dropout Prevention Resource Center. SAVE has Strong Evidence of Effectiveness. These programs have been in existence for three years or more. They were evaluated using an experimental design conducted by an external evaluation team and have strong empirical evidence demonstrating program effectiveness in reducing dropout and/or increasing graduation rates and/or having significant impact on dropout-related risk factors.
	Hamilton Fish National Institute on School and Community Violence
	Preparing to Evaluate a School Violence Prevention Program: Students Against Violence Everywhere
	Evaluation of Year One: Implementation of New Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Chapters The Evaluation and Training Institute Los Angeles, CA
	SAVE Survey featured in USA Today: Survey Finds Teens More Willing To Break "Code Of Silence" When There Is A Threat To School Safety
	Pre and Post Testing of Students Against Violence Everywhere Schools in the Tampa and San Diego Areas in the 2002-2003 School Year

National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere SAVE: Youth Voices... Grown-Up Choices! Toll Free 866-343-SAVE For more information contact cwray@nationalsave.org   /   Copyright 2010