Over the last decade, prevention science has generated mounting
evidence that media literacy can help protect youth from the onset
of multiple risky behaviors.
Our
most recent work focuses on researching and building
media literacy, production, and advocacy (civic
engagement) as protective factors in the lives of youth.
Our interdisciplinary, cross sector, multi-component
approach builds self and collective efficacy for health
outcomes in administrators, teachers, parents and
students. The Center and its partners -- the
Missouri Bar Association’s Project Citizen,
Cooperating School Districts,
and
CharacterPlus
--
implement character and citizenship educational
programming in K-12 schools statewide.
The
pedagogical approaches we bring together include
professional learning communities and school leadership
teams, teens as teachers, service learning, experiential
learning, homeside activities and parent education, as
well as nationally recognized school-based evaluation
expertise.