The assessment of parent-led prevention programs: a national descriptive study.

This article reports on the first, large-scale, systematic, descriptive study of parent-led prevention programs. The study explored the history of parent groups, their structure and activities, the roles of participants in the groups and the perceptions of parents, youth, and community leaders of the groups. Robust small sample analysis techniques were used to evaluate the process data collected in this study. The results indicate that parent-led prevention is an active, although relatively small-scale grass-roots movement. Broad support for the movement exists within the communities where groups arise, and the presence of parent-led programs leads to greater support for community agencies. This support is a major mechanism by which parent groups alter the community climate, allowing agencies to implement policies that might otherwise be considered too controversial to be accepted.