PAL® is an award-winning, nationally recognized, evidence-based prevention program developed by the nonprofit organization Workers Assistance Program, Inc. It was designed for youth with a goal to shape extraordinary leaders.
We recognize the innate capacity for social understanding, personal well-being, and community participation within every youth. The PAL® program channels that potential so participants can make a difference. Empowered youth build exceptional lives for themselves and create better schools, communities, and beyond.
Course content and interactive activities nurture and build skills that support youth in developing protective factors which help them achieve school and social success. These changes have been demonstrated to persist and become enhanced in every aspect of life well after completion of the program.
The PAL® course is a prevention, leadership development, and character education elective for elementary, middle, and high school students.
This evidence-based curriculum creates environments in which students participate in service-learning activities and receive effective training in critical skills:
The PAL® curriculum provides various benefits to students, schools, and communities.
Benefits include:
Parents and school administrators alike note a favorable perception of program effectiveness. The outcomes identified through implementation of the PAL® program in a school setting are necessary for students to achieve school and social success.
Outcomes include:
PAL® is a Texas Education Agency (TEA) accredited course in Texas. TEA will not give elective credit to uncertified PAL® Programs.
Bring PAL® to your school or community! Motivated youth equipped with leadership and development opportunities can do great things. The PAL® program provides a critical first line of defense and utilizes the potential of youth as a resource and catalyst for positive change and success at every level.
We aim to create exemplary PAL® programs by providing training, networking opportunities, and technical assistance that will support you every step of the way. As a certified PAL® course teacher, you are an integral part to the success of PAL®!
In order to implement PAL® curriculum, you will need to complete your PAL® Certification Training.
Additionally, every three (3) years you will be required to renew your PAL® Certification Training. This mandatory training ensures that you will run a healthy, successful program and maintain fidelity.
Under the copyright restrictions of the PAL® curricula, you can neither purchase or implement the PAL® curriculum, without the mandatory training.
The first step to bringing PAL® to your school or community is to request a meeting with your teacher, principal, or club director to share information about the PAL® program with them. Our website goes into great detail about the PAL® program, and will guide decision makers on how to get started.
If you are interested in becoming a PAL® student, there is a nomination or application, and screening process involved.
Selections are often based on criteria and characteristics such as:
We recommend you are active and engaged in your school classes, get involved in your community, and start volunteering if you are interested in becoming a PAL® student.
