CAST (Coping And Support Training) consists of twelve, 55-minute sessions facilitated by an adult who works well with at-risk youth and who is trained to implement the CAST program. The 12 CAST sessions are offered twice per week in a (middle or high) school setting as a pull-out program, or outside of the school setting by youth-oriented agencies, mental health professionals, and community centers.

The RY and CAST curricula align with the National Health Education Standards of CDC’s School Health Education Resources.

The CAST Group is comprised of 6 – 8 students, who are INVITED to participate. CAST can be offered to an entire population (as “universal” prevention), to a high-risk group (“selective” prevention), or to specific at-risk students (“indicated” prevention).

In NIH-funded studies, relative to controls, CAST youth evidenced significant and sustained changes:

• 65% reduction in suicide risk behaviors
• 34% reduction (for females) and 27% reduction (for males) in anxiety
• 44% reduction in depression
• 62% reduction in hard drug use
• 16% reduction in alcohol use
• 24% increase in problem-solving coping
• 24% increase in personal control
• 27% increase in family support

Go to Research for more details.