Response to COVID-19

The LST Team continues to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the schools and communities we serve that are implementing the Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) Program. With schools resuming instruction, we understand that program implementation may not be proceeding under ideal conditions, and we are available to respond to your LST-related questions and concerns. We encourage you to reach out to your Implementation Coordinator for guidance, resources, and updates to support LST delivery with your students.

Our Work

CSPV partners with schools across the nation to implement Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST). The middle school curriculum is an experimentally-proven program that targets the social and psychological factors associated with violence and substance use in youth. The high school program uses a competence enhancement, or behavior-focused, approach to address key risk and protective factors, and has demonstrated effects in decreasing daily substance users. Both LST programs – middle and high school – are universal prevention programs that teach personal self-management skills, social skills, and general refusal skills to equip adolescents with the knowledge and skills to develop healthy attitudes and behaviors.

We facilitate high-quality implementation of LST by providing school districts with resources, training, technical assistance, fidelity monitoring, and sustainability planning. Implementation of LST bridges the gap between research and practice by using the best practices from implementation science to provide guidance and support on how to effectively implement an evidence-based program. Delivering LST with a high degree of fidelity to the program’s design ensures that students receive the information and skill practice to achieve optimal outcomes with respect to healthy youth development.

The LST Project Team brings the mission and values of CSPV to life in all aspects of our work, both with participating partners and within our team. By employing equal opportunity school recruitment practices, we partner with diverse schools and communities to implement the universal prevention program LST and foster an inclusive culture. By learning from our communities’ unique lived experiences, we provide nuanced support to school partners, refine operational procedures, and contribute to the field of implementation science. We recognize that change begins with ourselves; through upholding CSPV values, we strive to provide a lasting impact on youth, schools, and communities.

Program Information: Detailed information about the LST middle and high school programs.
Implementation Resources: Tools to promote high-quality LST delivery and sustainability.
Publications: Results of fidelity monitoring data collected while helping schools implement LST.
Grant Opportunities: Information regarding grants to support LST implementation.
Cost Calculator: Online form to approximate the expenses of implementing LST.

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Our Partners

Since 2009, CSPV has worked with over 700 schools in 17 states to implement the LST program with fidelity to develop pro-health, pro-social attitudes, behaviors, and skills in adolescents.

Two funders have supported implementation of the LifeSkills Training (LST) program through our team at CU Boulder. For several years, funding was provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to disseminate the LST program across Colorado. To implement LST nationally, in 16 additional states, funding is provided by Altria Client Services, on behalf of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton Co., and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company LLC.

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Our Impact

Since 2009, we have facilitated implementation of LifeSkills Training (LST) in over 700 schools and reached over 500,000 students, affecting real change in the lives of youth across our nation.

Quotes from school partners demonstrate the positive impact of LST:

  • “LST has been a huge asset to our school, students, and school climate.”

  • “Students were all excited to learn LST since it was so relevant to their lives, and they were able to discuss social issues that affect them.”

Additional Resources

LST GRANT LEADERSHIP TEAM

Amanda Lain, Project Director
LST National

Diane Ballard, Project Director
LST Colorado
Director of Operations, LST National

Karen Drewelow, Assistant Director
LST National

LIFESKILLS TRAINING LINKS

BLUEPRINTS FOR HEALTHY YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:

Find all of our specific program information and find a program to match your needs on the Blueprints programs website:

Blueprints Programs