Monday-Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 200
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508

 

 

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Evidence-Based Strategies

SANKOFA

The SANKOFA Youth Violence Prevention Program is a strengths-based, prevention intervention designed for African American youth ages 13-19 (though it has also been used with Latino and White youth). The goal of the school-based intervention is to equip youth with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, confidence, and motivation to minimize their risk for involvement in violence, victimization as a result of violence, and other negative behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use. The intervention promotes resilience and survival in difficult and even life-threatening situations.

The intervention includes an adolescent curriculum and an optional parent curriculum. The adolescent curriculum (24 modules and 3 booster modules) addresses:

  • Goals and values
  • Reasons for fighting and carrying and using weapons
  • Stereotypes, beliefs, and attitudes that render one at risk for violence-related injury and death
  • Responsibility to self, family, and community
  • Stages of conflict escalation
  • Strengthening of internal locus of control
  • Exercising of choices
  • Risk assessment
  • Motivation to use nonviolent conflict resolution
  • Srategies and mental and behavioral rehearsals for nonviolent conflict resolution

The curriculum is designed to be compatible with an existing school curriculum, and modules are available in formats suitable for 45-, 60-, or 80-minute class periods. The length of the implementation schedule depends on the number of curriculum modules taught per week. The parent curriculum (4 modules) emphasizes adolescents' concern with violence, provides an overview of the adolescent curriculum's key concepts, and asks parents to examine their personal beliefs and attitudes regarding violence. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of positive parent-child interactions and offers practical strategies for reinforcing violence prevention skills (e.g., role modeling, stress and anger management). 

The intervention includes didactic instruction, demonstration, experiential exercises, case studies, games, group discussion, small group activities, role-play, performance feedback, and multimedia.

Research

Hines, P. M., Vega, W., & Jemmott, J. (2004). Final report: A culture based model for youth violence risk-reduction. Unpublished manuscript.  Fighting and bullying behaviors were measured using the 8-item Modified Aggression Scale: Students in the intervention schools reported fewer fighting and bullying behaviors. Violence-related bystander behaviors were measured using the 6-item SANKOFA Violence Scale: Students in the intervention schools reported fewer violence-related bystander behaviors. Personal victimization was measured using a 10-item scale developed by Orpinas and Kelder:  Students in the intervention schools reported fewer incidents of personal victimization.

Prevention Matrix

Secondary, Tertiary

Rating

SANKOFA is included in NREPP, SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence Based Prevention Programs and Practices.

Measures

Training

Required training includes, but is not limited to, a 7-day, on-site Group Facilitator Training (5 consecutive days plus 2 follow-up days) at a cost of $750 per person (minimum of 12 participants) or $12,000 per group (maximum of 24 participants) plus travel expenses.  The cost of the SANKOFA Violence Prevention Kit (including one SANKOFA Orientation Video one DVD) is $750 per kit.

Nebraska Children Grantee Communities

Hall County Collaborative (H3C)

In Grand Island, SANKOFA is used as a prevention program and diversion program operating at four levels:

  1. Grade school level program for prevention of gang recruitment
  2. Middle school level program for prevention of gang recruitment
  3. Police intervention and diversion for intervention in gang activity
  4. Court diversion and sentencing for intervention and treatment of violence and gang activity.

The SANKOFA program in Grand Island also offers training and education for parents.

215 Centennial Mall South, Suite 200
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508

Monday-Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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