AWARD CONTRACTS FAIRLY

What Is SMART Moves?

SMART Moves (for Skills Mastery and Resistance Training) is a
research-based program that teaches youngsters skills to avoid
high-risk behaviors, such as drug use, said Sam Carrell, executive
director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Iowa.

A Boys & Girls Clubs of America Web page describes SMART Moves this way:

"More than simply emphasizing a 'Say No' message, the program teaches
young people ages 6-15 how to say no by involving them in discussion
and role-playing, practicing resistance and refusal skills,
developing assertiveness, strengthening decision-making skills and
analyzing media and peer influence. The ultimate goal: to promote
abstinence from substance abuse and adolescent sexual involvement
through the practice of responsible behavior."

To implement the program, the Legislature gave the Iowa Alliance of
Boys & Girls Clubs $188,699 for the budget year that ended June 30.

The money helped pay to train staff in Iowa's nine clubs to conduct
the program, but did not cover the program's entire cost, Carrell
said. The clubs are in Adair, Ames, Carter Lake, Cedar Rapids,
Davenport, Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City and Waterloo.

Dave Klinkenborg, director of operations for Boys & Girls Clubs of
Central Iowa, said the curriculum typically is presented in 12
one-hour classes. Some clubs presented the program during school.
Others met after school.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa served as administrator for the
contract, receiving $17,000 to do so. The organization had to present
a detailed program proposal for approval to the Iowa Department of
Public Health, and the program was monitored and evaluated, Carrell said.

Mark Messenbaugh, director of government relations for Boys & Girls
Clubs of America, said other groups could have approached the
Legislature for funding.

"It [the SMART Moves legislation] was written with us in mind, but
anybody could have applied for that money just as we did. I really do
believe that was the case," said Messenbaugh, who added that SMART
Moves is a high-quality program proven to work.

His organization did not want to prevent competition; it just wanted
to win the dollars based on proper objectives, he said.

The bill "set some difficult hurdles, but we are not the only group
that can meet some of those hurdles," Messenbaugh said. "I really do
support competition."