This article addresses the generalizability of research showing that certain preventive interven
tions reduce youth involvement in undesirable behaviors A middle school with multiple organ
izational problems attempted to implement a comprehensive prevention program aimed at
increasing social competencies, social bonding, and school success using program components
that had been demonstrated in prior research to reduce problem behavior The program never
reached the expected levels of implementation, and no dependable effects on youth behaviors or
attitudes were observed. The results are placed in the context of research that has repeatedly
shown that prevention programs work best in amenable settings.
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