Research

THE FOUNDATION

Based on the public health and social-ecological frameworks for prevention, MBF Prevention Education Programs were developed based on the latest research and prevention best practices. These include developmental victimology and polyvictimization research, cognitive-behavioral theory, healthy sexual development, and trauma-informed practices, with a specific focus on the developmental stages and different learning styles of children. The lessons are presented in a fun and engaging way that increase knowledge, build preventative as well as resistance skills, engage safe adults, and address risk and protective factors. Learning objectives and evaluation standards are included, as well as alignment with academic and health instruction standards.

PROGRAM EVALUATION RESEARCH

When assessed along the continuum of evidence presented by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), MBF Child Safety Matters^® is a well-supported, or evidence-based, curriculum for elementary school students in grades K-5. Four independent research studies have examined the effectiveness of the program – one with long-term follow up – with positive results for both student knowledge gains and facilitator implementation fidelity. MBF has four additional comprehensive, evidence-informed programs, which were developed based on the same theoretical knowledge and research best-practices, suggesting the same quality and effectiveness. In addition to research evidence, MBF programs also have experiential and contextual evidence support. The process of development, review, and refinement has included both education and prevention subject matter experts as well as piloting programs within the context and settings in which they will be implemented. This has allowed us to create programs that are not only effective, but are acceptable, practical, and being used across the U.S. by thousands of facilitators with over nine million children.

What Is “Evidence-Based”?

And are other programs truly evidence-based?

MBF is committed to ongoing research to ensure the efficacy of all programs and strives to be transparent in our explanations of MBF program efficacy or evidence base. While many organizations and programs claim they are “evidence-based,” there is no single set of guidelines or criteria that must be met to make this claim. Many think of “evidence-based” as a program listed on a registry site. While there are registries that list programs according to their level of evidence, there are quality and effective programs not listed on any registry.

It is important for stakeholders assessing violence prevention programs to understand the components and continuum of evidence. Program users are encouraged to research programs’ claims of evidence and assess their accuracy.

In assessing prevention programs, it is important to assess the strength of evidence as well as the effectiveness of a program to achieve its desired outcomes. It is equally important to know that a program will work and be successful in the particular context and setting in which it will be implemented.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Evidence-based decision-making is a process for making decisions about a program, practice, or policy that is grounded in the best available research evidence and informed by experiential evidence from the field and relevant contextual evidence.”[1]

The Best Available Research Evidence enables researchers, practitioners, and policy-makers to determine whether or not a prevention program, practice, or policy is actually achieving the outcomes it aims to and in the way it intends. The more rigorous the research, the more compelling the evidence. The extent to which a prevention strategy has been replicated in multiple, applied settings with diverse populations (external/ecological validity), and the availability and accessibility of implementation supports (implementation guidance) are also important aspects of best available research evidence.
DOCUMENTS AND GUIDELINES ON PREVENTION RESEARCH AND PROGRAM BEST PRACTICES
Below you will find the Theoretical Framework and Academic Alignment Safety Briefs for our classroom-based programs. National documents list program alignment with Common Core Standards, while Florida documents list alignment with Florida Education Standards.

National

Florida

Additional Documents