RY is unique in that it...
• is a comprehensive, sustained, semester-long intervention

• is psychoeducational (i.e., integrates small- group work and life-skills training models)
includes a peer-group support component

• is explicitly designed to modify known risk factors linked with school dropout, adolescent drug involvement, depression, and youth suicide risk

• is explicitly designed to enhance personal and social protective factors

•has demonstrated effectiveness for increasing school performance and for reducing drug involvement and suicide risk.

Central Outcome Goals:
To Increase School Performance
Specific objectives are to increase school performance by increasing school bonding and thereby increasing school attendance (across all classes), and increasing GPA (grade point average across all classes), and increasing the number of credits earned per semester toward graduation.

To Decrease Drug Involvement
Specific objectives are to decrease the frequency of alcohol and other drug use by increasing drug-use control and by decreasing adverse drug-use consequences experienced with friends, with family, at school, and with the judicial system.

To Decrease Suicide Risk
Specific objectives are to decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors by decreasing specific risk factors (depression and hopelessness, anger control problems, stress) and increasing specific protective factors (self-esteem, personal control, and social support from peers, family, and school).