Stewart, C., Rapp-Paglicci, L., and Rowe, W. (2009). Evaluating the efficacy of the Prodigy prevention program across urban and rural locales. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26(1), 65-75.

Stewart, C., Rapp-Paglicci, L., and Rowe, W. (2009). Evaluating the efficacy of the Prodigy prevention program across urban and rural locales. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 26(1), 65-75.

Author Affiliations: University of South Florida School of Social Work
Artforms: Cultural arts, media arts, music, performing arts, visual arts
Program: Prodigy Cultural Arts Program
Program Description: The Prodigy Cultural Arts Program is a diversion program for youth aged 10-17 who have been adjudicated in the juvenile justice system, offering classes in the visual, performing, musical and media arts as an alternative to court. Programs, taught by master artists, run for eight weeks, with youth attending three hours per week. Goals are to build pro-social skills and reduce recidivism. Prodigy also has a prevention program geared to non-offending at-risk youth in the community.
Program (Study) Location: West Central Florida
Study Published: 2009
Participant Type: Adjudicated and at-risk youth aged 10-17
Sample Size: 350 adolescents and their parents
Data Type: Quantitative: Quasi-experimental pre- and post-test
Evaluation Focus: Mental health symptoms, delinquency, family functioning

Summary of Impact:
● Significant improvement in family functioning overall.
●  Statistically significant changes in mental health symptoms including depression/anxiety, somatic and suicidal symptoms for both males and females.
●  Females seemed to especially benefit from the program.

KEYWORDS: cultural arts, delinquency, family functioning, identity, juvenile, media arts, music, performing arts, Prodigy Cultural Arts Program, visual arts, youth