This study examines the effects of the CARING at Columbia program, a school-based creative arts primary prevention program at a New York City public elementary school. It aims to answer whether the program is effective in improving affect, problem solving skills, the ability to seek social support, and self-esteem. It also examined whether it is effective in decreasing negative coping skills of distancing, internalizing, and externalizing.

Twenty-nine children, ages 9–12, participated in the study from October 2007 to February 2008. The experimental and usual care groups, completed The Self-Report Coping Measure (Causey & Dubow, 1992) and the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale (Bracken, 1992) at pre- and posttest to determine the impact of the program.

Despite non-significant findings, the study suggests that the program is helpful in identifying potential risks for children. Design limitations such as the inability to fully randomize the sample may have played a role in the study's outcome.