● In 2005, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention designated Say It Straight Training as an Evidence-Based Prevention Program.

● In 2001, the U.S. Department of Education, Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools designated Say It Straight Training as an Evidence-Based Program for prevention of violence, substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors; and promotion of wellness, self-awareness, personal and social responsibility, good communication skills and positive relationships. The reviewers rated the program highly for demonstrating its relevance to the intended population and its implementation methods.

● Say It Straight Training was featured on First Lady Nancy Reagan's nationally televised program, "A Generation at Risk."

● Say It Straight Training was cited as a national drug prevention education model by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

● In Prevention Forum, Benard said Say It Straight, “gets at the essence of peer programming’s effectiveness- providing youth the opportunity to participate in activities meaningful to their lives for which they assume responsibility and over which they have some control.”