PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience

What is PROSPER?

Many programs try to reduce risky teen behavior or strengthen families. However, few show scientific evidence that they work. In the end, youth, their families and society pay a price for programs that don’t do the job.

PROSPER is scientifically-proven. It’s built on partnerships between Cooperative Extension and public schools. Long-term success requires that families, schools, and community groups work together to support the program. PROSPER includes technical assistance which supports the partnerships; helps build the abilities to start and continue quality programs; and evaluates how effective the programs are. The combination of partnerships, expertise, and programming is necessary for community success.

The PROSPER Partnership Model has a record of accomplishment, based on 20 years of research funded by the National Institutes of Health. PROSPER can bring high-quality prevention programs to any community. This approach uses community teams and provides them with the knowledge and resources to effectively introduce programs and to develop ongoing financial support, so that the programs can continue long term.

Why PROSPER?

The PROSPER Partnership Model isn’t just for starting prevention programs. It helps build relationships among four groups: university scientists who are trying to prevent problems, the Cooperative Extension System, public schools, and local people who want healthy youth and families. PROSPER networks are unique and important, since they allow scientific expertise to flow from the university to local communities. This long-term effort has an impact on the whole community.