PROSPER Partnership Network training at the BCTR

May 24, 2012

John Eckenrode (PI; NY PROSPER Demo. Project) , Sarah Chilenski (Evaluation Coordinator; PROSPER National Network), Melissa Tomascik (PA Prevention Coordinator and State Coach; Penn State), Eugenia Hamilton (PROSPER National Network; Iowa State), Kim Kopko (NY PROSPER State Liaison), Deinera Exner-Cortens (NY PROSPER Evaluation Coordinator), Richard Spoth (PROSPER National Network; Iowa State); Jennifer Tiffany (NY PROSPER State Extension System Rep.)

The Unit 1 Training for the PROSPER (PROmoting School-community-university Partnerships to Enhance Resilience) Partnership Model was held at the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR) on May 16 & 17, 2012. PROSPER works through the Cooperative Extension system to implement and sustain high-quality evidence-based programming designed to prevent risky behaviors in youth, promote positive youth development, and strengthen families. The training was an orientation to the various phases of the PROSPER Model, defined the State Management Team, Prevention Coordinator, and Team Leader roles, and defined next steps for implementation of the PROSPER Partnership Model in New York State.

The PROSPER Unit 1 Training was conducted by the National PROSPER Partnership Network and attended by National Network faculty and staff from Iowa State and Pennsylvania State Universities, Cornell University faculty and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators from four counties, as well as graduate and undergraduate students involved in the PROSPER Partnership Model.

Deinera Exner-Cortens, John Eckenrode, and Kim Kopko at the training

New York’s initial involvement with the PROSPER Partnership Network began in March of 2010 with the participation of the BCTR and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) in the Grand Opportunities (GO) Project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Cornell was selected for the GO Project because the center and the extension system scored high on a number of key readiness indicators for adoption of the PROSPER Partnership Model.

Two counties in New York—Livingston and Schuyler—have been selected to begin implementation of the PROSPER Partnership Model. Donna Horton from Livingston County and Melissa Schroeder from Schuyler County will serve as Team Leaders for the Community Teams in their respective counties. Anna Steinkraus from Tompkins County has been selected for the role of Prevention Coordinator. The Prevention Coordinator serves as a Community Team’s “coach,” providing ongoing proactive technical assistance and functioning as liaison between the Team Leaders in the counties and the State Management Team at Cornell University. The State Management Team is led by John Eckenrode and consists of research faculty, extension staff and administrators, an evaluation coordinator, and liaisons to the national PROSPER Network. Kim Kopko will serve as the State Coordinator for the PROSPER project.