Interventions and Curricula

keepin’ it REAL (kiR)

The keepin’ it REAL (kiR) curriculum is an evidence-based, culturally-grounded, and classroom-based substance use prevention program for youth ages 10-13. kiR empowers youth to live drug-free by building confidence and using the REAL strategies—Refuse, Explain, Avoid, and Leave. It teaches practical, easy-to-remember drug resistance skills, helping students recognize risks, trust their instincts, and make choices aligned with their values.

The 10-lesson curriculum fosters student-teacher interaction through reading, writing, role-plays, and games to practice the REAL resistance strategies. A key feature is a video series based on true stories from Phoenix students.

SIRC researchers developed, tested, and adapted kiR specifically for Mexican heritage youth with funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). kiR was recognized as a Model Program by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is listed as a promising program by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy found kiR to have a positive benefit to cost ratio.

The curriculum packet, including the Teacher's Guide, Student Workbooks, PowerPoint slides and 5 real-life video segments that support lessons, were updated in 2023. They are available from ETR at https://www.etr.org/store/curricula/keepin-it-real/

For more information about adaptations of kiR for other countries please contact ASU’s Global Center for Applied Health Research.

Parenting in 2 Worlds (P2W)

P2W is an evidence-based curriculum for urban Native American families with teenagers (ages 12-17) to prevent adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior. It is a cultural adaptation of the Families Preparing the New Generation (FPNG) program that incorporates unique Native American cultural values and parenting practices. The curriculum consists of 10 parent- and family-focused workshops. SIRC developed and tested P2W with funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities.

ASU researchers and their urban Indian center partners are currently assessing the effectiveness of P2W in different regions with different migration histories and tribal backgrounds. Find out more here.

For general information about P2W, please contact SIRC at sirc@asu.edu

Living in 2 Worlds (L2W)

L2W is an evidence-based substance use prevention program for urban Native American middle school-aged youth. L2W is a cultural adaptation of the evidence-based keepin’ it REAL curriculum. It was developed and tested by SIRC in partnership with the Phoenix Indian Center using a community-engaged process to integrate unique cultural sources of resilience that protect Native youth from substance use and other risk behaviors. SIRC developed and tested L2W with funding from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. It is currently being updated to address nicotine and cannabis vaping with funding from the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

The L2W intervention is a mainstay of youth prevention programming offered by the Phoenix Indian Center. For current offerings of L2W, please contact the Phoenix Indian Center.

For further information, please contact SIRC at sirc@asu.edu

Families Preparing the New Generation/Familias Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG)

FPNG is an evidence-based family-focused substance use prevention program for Latino parents of middle school-aged youth. FPNG was designed to enhance the efficacy of the keepin’ it REAL (kiR) program by strengthening the parent-child relationship. The 10-week group-based curriculum focuses on building healthy family functioning and parenting skills to help youth resist alcohol and drugs. With financial support from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, SIRC researchers developed and tested FPNG and found it to be effective.

For more information, please contact us at sirc@asu.edu

Families Preparing the New Generation Plus/ Familias Preparando la Nueva Generación Plus (FPNG+)

FPNG+ is an enhanced version of FPNG that added a healthy eating component to the original substance use prevention program for Latino parents of middle school-aged youth. SIRC researchers found initial evidence for the efficacy of FPNG+ in a recent study supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Future work will be testing an online, virtually delivered version of the FPNG+ curriculum. For more information, please contact Dr. Sonia Vega-López at Sonia.Vega.Lopez@asu.edu.

For additional information, please contact SIRC at sirc@asu.edu