REMEMBER WHEN mother said to you, �It is better to give than to receive?� Did you, as a young person, know the meaning behind these words? Most children and many adults never truly experience the significance of this saying. However, students who are part of PSI's Positive Peer Group Program not only understand the feeling of satisfaction that giving brings, but also reap many other benefits.

During the 2004-2005 school year, students at three charter schools in the Columbus, Ohio area participated in the Positive Peer Group Program by organizing bake sales, candy sales, dress-down days, and a field day in order to raise money which they then donated back to their respective schools for needs such as additional computers, books, and a school flag. Unlike many other fund-raising events in which students might engage, they were entirely responsible for the decision-making, planning, and evaluation that their service projects required. In addition, the majority who participated were chosen because of their at-risk characteristics. Meeting weekly with a PSI Facilitator, students learned skills in areas such as conflict resolution, decision-making, problem-solving, resisting negative peer pressure, time management, and goal-setting.

What is a Positive Peer Group?
PPG is based on the conceptual research of Donald Wonderly, Ph.D., co-founder of PSI. Wonderly's model has four axioms central to both PSI�s and the PPG philosophy: 

• All students want to meaningfully contribute to a group.

• While needing to make such contributions, not all have the skills or the opportunity to do so.

• Meaningful contributions to the school will increase positive attitudes toward the school and self.

• A program that optimizes students� relationships and positive attitudes toward work will increase academic performance, attendance, and classroom participation. 

Using the strong influence of the peer group as a motivational force, the Program creates a context within which at-risk students contribute to their school while interacting with positive peers and adults. Many of Wonderly�s books can be found at Amazon.com.

ImpIementing and Evaluating
The Positive Peer Group Program has been in development over the past 15 years and has been successfully implemented in hundreds of schools. PPG has been continually evaluated within a scientific model using a control group for comparison purposes.

The joy of giving has been confirmed in these at-risk students through service projects. Tutoring first and second graders, removing litter, broken glass, and rubbish from the inner-city school playground and planting flowers in their place, writing and performing anti-bullying plays are all part of this package. Often principals have said, �That is the first time ... has been in my office for a positive reason� or �I can�t believe that the students I once considered �trouble� are now using positive peer pressure to encourage their friends to behave!� 

Students taking part in the Positive Peer Group program increased in resisting negative peer pressure, as they built work ethic and problem-solving skills. Giving and service may seem like simple concepts, but their impact can indeed be powerful!

Karen McKelvey is PSI�s Coordinator of Prevention/Intervention Initiatives. Please request our Research Report demonstrating program impact by contacting her by e-mail at: karenmckelvey@psi-solutions.org.