Taking a positive approach toward prevention, the Creating Lasting Connections program was designed in order to promote strong, healthy, and supportive youth and families (Johnson, Strader, Berbaum, Bryant, Bucholtz, Collins & Noe, 1996). As suggested by the literature review presented above, with such factors in the youth's life, the youth's resistance to substance use and abuse should theoretically increase. As components of the program protocol, children are taught appropriate skills for personal growth and interpersonal communication, and strong family bonds are stressed. Although the program is designed to be delivered through community-level organizations such as places of worship, recreation centers, and schools, the institution must already have social outreach programs and links with other human service providers. Using a randomized block design with repeated measures, families were assigned to either treatment or control groups in five church communities. The intervention has been shown to be most effective for 11 to 15 year olds living in high-risk environments. From increased engagement in church activities and greater levels of communication skills, family bonding and use of community services, the treatment group had a significant decrease in the age of onset and frequency of alcohol and drug use.