Examining the Effectiveness of the Seven Challenges® Comprehensive Counseling Program With Adolescents

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of The Seven Challenges® comprehensive counseling program. Results, based on data from 392 adolescent clients enrolled in 7 different agencies providing The Seven Challenges, showed decreases in number of crimes committed; in frequency of substance use; and in severity of substance problems, substance issues, substance use disorders, and internalizing and externalizing disorder symptomatology. Finally, results evidenced improved involvement in self-help activities. These findings strengthen the existing evidence base of The Seven Challenges suggesting its effectiveness as a comprehensive counseling program and its effectiveness across multiple types of health-related outcomes and multiple treatment provider agencies.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent
• mental health
• substance use
• the seven challenges
• treatment

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to acknowledge the contributions of the agencies that provided The Seven Challenges Program and collected the client-level outcome data used in this study. In addition, the author is appreciative of editing support from Jessica Allen.

Additional information

Funding

The collection of the data used in this article is from the National Evaluation of Juvenile Drug Courts and Reclaiming Futures, which was funded by the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) through an interagency agreement with the Library of Congress (Contract No. LCFRD11C0007) and by OJJDP (Grant No. 2013-DC-BX-0081). The views expressed here are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the official policies of OJJDP or the Library of Congress; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. This study and the development of this article was supported by funding from The Seven Challenges, LLC, who also provided information regarding the history of the utilization of The Seven Challenges program at provider agencies and the process involved in gaining authorization to provide The Seven Challenges program. However, The Seven Challenges, LLC, did not have any input nor play any role in the decisions regarding the design of the study, the obtainment of the data, the data analysis, interpretation of the data, the writing of the article, and the submittal of this article for publication. These were solely the efforts and decisions of the author.