Keep a Clear Mind (KACM)

Keep a Clear Mind is a parent-child, take-home program in drug education. The program includes four student activity books, four student incentives, and five parent newsletters. Students take the activity books home, one per week, and do the program with their parents. They receive a student incentive (bumper sticker, book mark, etc) for showing their teacher that their parents have signed indicating they have worked with them to complete the activity book. After four weeks of activity books, the newsletters are sent home, again, one per week (or one every other week). The program is easy to use and takes almost no classroom time.

This program is approved for WV Expanded School Mental Health.

Last reviewed: 2023

Intended Outcomes:
Assist students in cultivating the skills and confidence to refuse and avoid drugs.

Continuum of Care:
Universal Prevention

Topic Areas:
Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Physical Health, Substance Use

Ages:
Childhood (4-12)

Geographic Locations:
Rural, Urban

Delivery Settings:
Community-Based, School-Based

Cultural Considerations:
No research found involving diverse populations

Audience:
This program is for students in 4th through 6th grade and their parents.

Credentials:
None. This program is implemented by classroom teachers and parents.

Manuals:
Yes

Is Training Required?
No

Who can provide the required training?

Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website

Program/Practice Website:
https://www.keepaclearmind.com/drug-alcohol-education

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:

Jowers, K. L., Bradshaw, C. P., & Gately, S. (2007). Taking School-Based Substance Abuse Prevention to Scale: District-Wide Implementation of “Keep A Clear Mind.” Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 51(3), 73–91.

Werch, C. E., Young, M., Clark, M., Garrett, C., Hooks, S., & Kersten, C. (1991). Effects of a take-home drug prevention program on drug-related communication and beliefs of parents and children. The Journal of School Health, 61(8), 346-350. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb07414.x

Additional Sources:

https://www.continuum.militaryfamilies.psu.edu/program/fact_sheet_705

Promising rating

WV Rating:
Promising
»WV Ratings Info

Rationale for Rating:

KACM is take home education for students grades 4, 5, 6 and their parents. We found 2 studies for this program, both older than 10 years. One study being a pre-post design (1991) and the other being a randomized control trial (2007). Both studies yielded positive outcomes with teachers, parents, and/or students. The reviewers strongly encourage the developer to undertake more research. At this time the program can be rated no higher than promising, due to lack of additional randomized control trials.

Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified

Other Registries/Ratings

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Not On Registry

Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Not On Registry

Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Unclear +

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Not On Registry

Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Not On Registry