Intervention Summary
unique YOU®. – formerly known as "I'm Special"
I'm Special is a substance abuse prevention program for 3rd and 4th graders. The primary goal of the program is to develop and nurture each child's sense of uniqueness and self-worth. It further enhances the protective and resiliency factors of children by teaching them appropriate ways for dealing with feelings; steps for making decisions; and skills for healthy living, effective group interactions, and resisting drugs, as provided through the program's "no use" message. The program is administered by trained facilitators through eight 50- to 60-minute group sessions, which are designed to be enjoyable for children and include a variety of hands-on activities. To become a trained facilitator, an individual with group leadership experience (e.g., a teacher, youth leader, counselor, prevention specialist) must complete a 2-day training. I'm Special has been implemented with both universal and at-risk populations in school classrooms and in after-school settings as well as with youth groups (e.g., clubs, Scouts).
Descriptive Information
Areas of Interest | Substance use disorder prevention |
Outcomes |
1: Self-esteem 2: Communication skills 3: Teamwork/cooperation |
Outcome Categories |
Mental health Social functioning |
Ages | 6-12 (Childhood) |
Genders |
Male Female |
Races/Ethnicities | Race/ethnicity unspecified |
Settings |
School Other community settings |
Geographic Locations |
Urban Suburban Rural and/or frontier |
Implementation History | An estimated 300 sites across the United States have implemented I'm Special since the program's inception, reaching approximately 9,000 children. The program also has been implemented in American Samoa, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. I'm Special has been evaluated four times. |
NIH Funding/CER Studies |
Partially/fully funded by National Institutes of Health: No Evaluated in comparative effectiveness research studies: No |
Adaptations | Program materials are available in both English and Spanish. |
Adverse Effects | No adverse effects, concerns, or unintended consequences were identified by the developer. |
IOM Prevention Categories |
Universal Selective |
Quality of Research
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Readiness for Dissemination
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Costs
The cost information below was provided by the developer. Although this cost information may have been updated by the developer since the time of review, it may not reflect the current costs or availability of items (including newly developed or discontinued items). The implementation point of contact can provide current information and discuss implementation requirements.
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