Photoessay #2444 - More evidence-based

So last night, I was helping set up with another member who really does buy into the scientific model.  I told her about the warning at the conference about adherance to 'evidence-based techniques.'  I admit it, I was scoffing.

She said "Changes is evidence-based."
I replied "But there's no study 'proving' it works."
"But it does work.  A lot of people have really been helped with this program.  It's helped us.  That's evidence."

True.

Our meetings are open; there's no charge.  People don't pay for it.  Often with programs, you might need to charge as people won't value it if you don't.  But we don't charge.

Thirty two adults showed up for the weekly meeting last night.  All engaged with the program and the structure.  For some, it's their second meeting; for others, we've been there for several years.  This program only works if people 'give back.'  All are parents (or step-parents or grandparents) of acting out adolescents and young-adults.  They work the program.

This program helps a lot of people.  It helped us.  That is evidence.

So I was searching around wondering what an 'evidence-based' parenting program looked like.  Several sites mentioned 'Scared Straight.'  Where you show young people what might happen if they don't clean up their act.  Really?  I remember being on a panel along with my son on a program at the high school about substance abuse.  Several parents wanted a 'scare' program.  Send them off to get scared, that will fix them.  My son didn't think it was useful; I know what many acting out teens would think.  "What happened to those people?  That would never happen to me because they are all losers."

A picture from a 'Scared straight' program.