Health Promotion and Prevention Services The Women’s Center Assessment Report Program Contact Joshua Fegley Assistant Director, Health Promotion and Prevention Services Project Director, CONNECT High-Risk Drinking Prevention Program Student Health Services Program Description & Learning Outcomes The EagleCHECK program is peer facilitated program designed to introduce students to the concepts of prosocial bystander interventions within the context of high-risk drinking and sexual assault prevention. The College at Brockport defines an EagleCHECK as “an intentional decision that an individual or groups makes to intervene in a situation that is or has the potential to become risky, dangerous, or an emergency.” EagleCHECK provides students with a safe environment to discuss and practice intervention skills and assist them with overcoming the barriers to acting as a pro-social bystander. Some of these barriers include diffusion of responsibility, lack of knowledge, role modeling, pluralistic ignorance, and the fear of upsetting peers or “getting them in trouble.” These peer-facilitated sessions utilize a number of teaching strategies, including audience response systems, role plays, and consensus building activities. Specifically, students who participate in an EagleCHECK program are expected to: Discuss the roles bystanders play in alcohol poisoning response and sexual assault prevention. Demonstrate appropriate and effective bystander education skills. Deconstruct myths related to high-risk drinking and sexual assault on college campuses. Think critically about the links between high-risk drinking and sexual assault. Describe services related to alcohol and substance use and sexual assault on and off-campus. EagleCHECK employs social norms theory, social diffusion theory, and research and best practices related to bystander interventions to develop students as agents of change. Program Implementation & Student Participation EagleCHECK facilitators participate in a 3 hour training session that introduced them to the program’s theoretical foundations, program learning strategies, and campus norms and policies. This session complements additional training provided by Rape Crisis Services and Health Promotion and Prevention Services staff on alcohol and sexual assault content knowledge, program facilitation skills, and student leadership. EagleCHECK was first implemented during the Fall 2010 semester. Multiple programs were held in each residence hall during the first 6 weeks of the semester. Student participation in these programs was “strongly encouraged.” Forty-six sessions were held in the residence hall, in addition to 3 sessions for members of fraternities and sororities. A total of 1,176 first year and upper-class students participated in EagleCHECK during the 2010-2011 academic year. During the Fall 2011 semester, EagleCHECK was added to the Welcome Week schedule and listed as a “mandatory” event for all new first-year students. This model allowed EagleCHECK to reach 927 students during 41 sessions in a single day. More importantly, students were presented with this information during their first weekend on-campus, helping to prepare them as they transition to college life and navigating decisions related to alcohol use and interpersonal relationships. EagleCHECK Participation Fall 2010 1,176 (upper-class and first-year students) Fall 2011 927 (first-year students) Frequency of Assessment Data Collection Annually, data is collected 1 month and 6 months after students complete the EagleCHECK program to gain a better understanding of student knowledge and behaviors related to bystander interventions. Data is collected using an anonymous, online survey sent to all participants. Data is used to enhance program curriculum and implementation. Additionally, qualitative data is collected from program facilitators to provide insight into their experiences facilitating the curriculum and working with their peers. Assessment Findings (Program Level) While there are a number of learning outcomes identified for EagleCHECK, assessment efforts focus on exploring participant experiences related to bystander interventions. Quantitative and qualitative measures are used to determine program effectiveness. Student experiences are categorized as “potentially risky or dangerous” or “risky or dangerous.” These categories help to assess the use of bystander interventions as a primary prevention strategy. The following represents assessment findings and how they have been used to enhance program implementation and curriculum. Assessment Measure % of students who have utilized a bystander intervention in a potentially risky or dangerous situation. 2010 Data 1 Month 20% (All) (n=233) 18% (Male) (90/Male) 21% (Female) (143/Female) 6 Months 36% (All) (n=161) 11% (Male) (65/Male) 52% (Female) (96/Female) Program Enhancements Adapt curriculum to include a greater emphasis on events leading up to risky or dangerous situation, identifying those signs, and intervening early. 2011 Data 1 Month 23.5% (All) (n=391) 17% (Male) (177/Male) 29% (Female) (214/Female) 6 Months (N/A) (N/A) Program Enhancements Enhance program to act as “a call to men” to engage in bystander behavior Assessment Measure % of students who have utilized a bystander intervention in a risky or dangerous situation. 2010 Data 1 Month 5% (All) (n=233) 7% (Male) (90/Male) 4% (Female) (143/Female 6 Months 9% (All) (n=161) 14% (Male) (65/Male) 8% (Female) (96/Female) Category Intervention related to alcohol poisoning Program Enhancements Stress the importance of intervening early, especially for men. 2011 Data 1 Month 5% (All) (n=391) 4.5% (Male) (177/Male) 6% (Female) (214/Female) 6 Months (N/A) (N/A) Qualitative Descriptions of Self-Reported Bystander Behaviors 1 Month Post Assessment - 2010 6 Month Post Assessment - 2010 (n=27) (n=24) 3 4 Program Enhancements 1 Month Post Assessment – 2011 (n=51) 5 Intervention related to high-risk drinking behaviors Intervention related to violence 5 6 16 0 2 2 Intervention related to potential of violence Intervention related to sexual violence Intervention related to potential for sexual violence Intervention related to offense namecalling, jokes, etc. (racially-based) Intervention related to offense namecalling, jokes, etc. (gender-based) Intervention related to offense namecalling, jokes, etc. (sexuality-based) Intervention related to confronting a peer’s unhealthy/risky behaviors 4 2 2 0 0 1 4 3 4 2 1 2 2 1 4 3 2 2 4 (disordered eating, academic dishonesty, mental health) 3 (mental health, “drunk guests,” “hooking up”) 13 (primarily mental health related, concern about roommate’s social groups (x2)) An examination of the qualitative data collected demonstrates the following: Most alcohol poisoning interventions took place after a student consumed alcohol at an off-campus party. Most high-risk drinking behavior interventions took place within the context of “pre-gaming,” drinking games, or at the conclusion of a drinking episode where peers ensured a friend returned home safely. All interventions related to violence or sexual violence occurred off-campus. Students have embraced the concept of EagleCHECK and have demonstrated bystander intervention skills in varying contexts (jokes, namecalling, mental health, etc.) There is much potential for EagleCHECK to be applied to a number of health and social justice issues and further create a campus culture of community, support, and engagement Student facilitator reflections on their experience during the Fall 2011 semester revealed the following: Facilitators experienced more challenging behaviors from all male groups (inappropriate comments, verbalization of rape myths, “macho” behavior). Facilitators appreciated when Resident Assistants stayed for the program and helped to monitor groups of participants. Some spaces used for sessions were too small. Assessment Findings (Campus Level) While EagleCHECK is a signature prevention program, it is part of more comprehensive high-risk drinking and sexual assault prevention programs at The College at Brockport. Performance indicators taken from the CORE Alcohol and Other Drug Survey are used to infer the effectiveness of the EagleCHECK program. Throughout the process of program development, implementation, and assessment students were intentionally used. As key stakeholders, their involvement is a crucial driving force as we work to create a campus culture of care and respect. As you can see from the CORE Survey results below, EagleCHECK, along with other opportunities developed within the context of the CONNECT: High Risk Drinking Prevention Program have provided significant opportunities for students to become engaged with prevention programming at The College at Brockport. 2000 1.5% 2001 .9% Students Reporting being “Actively Involved in AOD Prevention” 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 2009 1.4% 1.7% 3.3% 3.1% 9.3% 15% 2010 15.7% 2011 16.3% In addition, the collaborative approach to EagleCHECK and the infusion of its curriculum in programs, including Summer Orientation, has led to a significant increase in the number of students reporting that The College at Brockport has an alcohol and drug prevention program and a shift in students’ attitudes regarding alcohol, sexual violence, and gender based harassment/violence. 2000 37.9% Students Reporting that “The College at Brockport has a Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program” 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 2009 2010 53% 49.7% 57.6% 49% 46.7% 51.1% 80% 89% 2011 91% To what extent do students on your campus care about (high-risk drinking, sexual assault, gender harassment/violence) CORE Survey Year High-Risk Drinking Sexual Assault 2011 2010 2009 2008 94.1% 92.6% 89.9% 81% 93.8% 93% 89.7% 87% Gender Harassment/Violence 85% 77% 68.5% 62.4% EagleCHECK, in concert with other high-risk drinking prevention efforts, have also contributed to a significant decrease in the 2-week binge drinking rate among College at Brockport students. 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2008 65.9% 60.6% 55.3% 58.6% 57.9% 49.2% 2009 (Fall) 47.7% 2009 (Spring) 45.5% 2010 (Fall) 43.9% 2011 (Spring) 42.9% Data Review/Closing the Loop Based on assessment feedback there is much potential for EagleCHECK at The College at Brockport. While alcohol poisoning and sexual assault prevention, identification, and response will always be at the heart of EagleCHECK, it is evident that program foundations can be used to address a number of health and social justice issues and further create a campus culture of community, support, and engagement. Additionally, to reinforce the concepts of EagleCHECK throughout the academic year, a multifaceted public health campaign should be developed and implemented. The following recommendations are being made to enhance the EagleCHECK program: Introduce students to the concept of EagleCHECK at Summer Orientation during the College Life Live program. (completed Summer 2011) Infused into APS classes, Level I Alcohol Workshops, and outreach programs (completed Summer 2011) Recruit more facilitators for Fall 2012 implementation; explore space opportunities to make groups smaller (Implement Fall 2012) Develop a social marketing campaign utilizing best practices in health communication and social norms theory. (Implement Fall 2012) Develop an EagleCHECK Award to highlight individuals and groups contributing to the “spirit” of EagleCHECK. (Spring 2012) Develop an EagleCHECK booklet, highlighting interventions and resources related to alcohol and substance use, sexual violence, mental health, hate speech/crimes, bullying, unhealthy relationships, hazing, etc. (Fall 2011/Spring 2012) Explore opportunities for gender specific programs. (Spring 2012) Explore opportunities to engage with students through social media (YouTube, Facebook, etc.)