Locally designed - common sense - data driven - evidence based - solutions to help the next generation reach what’s possible.
In the 1990’s Iceland had a major problem with teen alcohol abuse. They recognized that multiple factors - family, school, peers, local environment - all have an impact on the health, safety and happiness of youth. They identified measures already proven by research to have protective effects. They designed a program to maximize those protective factors.
The results speak for themselves.
This program is now available globally under the name Planet Youth.
Evidence Based
The Icelandic Prevention Model is based on decades of research from around the world that has identified factors - either harmful or protective - that influence the risk for youth high risk behavior. Research shows that these factors are very similar across many countries and cultures.
Data Driven
Communities design their local plan of action based on results of their own kids’ surveys. Analysis of these surveys is done quickly and the results are returned to the community in a matter of weeks, not months, so the project design is based on fresh information. At years 3 and 5 the surveys are repeated so the community can see where it’s making an impact and where adjustments might be made.
Locally Designed
No two Planet Youth programs are identical. This model relies on people from ALL parts of the community coming together to review their local student survey data, establishing where the gaps are in the protective factors and deciding what would be helpful, and possible, for their community.
Common Sense Solutions
Many of the factors that have a protective effect for teenagers are things your parents or grandparents would recognize like: always knowing where your kid is, knowing your kid’s friends and having afterschool activities. All of these have been shown to reduce high risk behavior. So, this isn’t rocket science. It’s common sense backed by science.
What makes us think a program from Iceland would work in Lexington?
One comment we hear sometimes is “Lexington isn’t Iceland”. Certainly the culture and weather are different … Iceland’s horses tend to be a bit smaller … and hairier … than ours.
However, one needs to remember that some of the early inspiration for the program came from a pilot project here in the U.S. and that the Icelandic Model is based on research from around the globe, not just Iceland. All of this research shows us the way kids grow and mature is similar everywhere. Many of the basic factors that protect our kids, or put them at risk, are the same here as in Iceland and around the world.
