EDUCATION AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN Vol. 40, No. 1, 2017 Pages 97–110 Effective Evaluation of the FRIENDS Anxiety Prevention Program in School Settings: A Response to Maggin and Johnson Paula M. Barrett Founding Director, FRIENDS Programs International Foundation Marita Cooper The Australian National University Paul Stallard University of Bath Larissa Zeggio Brazilian Institute of Emotional and Social Intelligence Julia Gallegos-Guajardo University of Monterrey, Mexico Abstract This response aims to critically evaluate the methodology and aims of the meta-analytic review written by Maggin and Johnson (2014). The present au- thors systematically provide responses for each of the original criticisms and highlight concerns regarding Maggin and Johnson’s methodology, while ob- jectively describing the current state of evidence of the FRIENDS programs. The studies utilized for this response were conducted across cultural back- grounds and incorporated the most up-to-date methodology in prevention research. In review of the original article, this article raises concerns regard- ing the deinition of prevention and risk, article identiication and evaluation procedures, as well as overall methodology. Finally, it provides suggestions for future research in prevention and early intervention ields. Keywords: prevention, resilience, FRIENDS programs, anxiety F irst, the authors would like to welcome Maggin and Johnson (2014) to the growing evidence base of the FRIENDS programs. Outside of the Briesch, Hagermoser Sanetti, and Briesch (2010) systematic Address correspondence to: Paula M. Barrett, FRIENDS Programs Inter- national Foundation, P.O. Box 5699, West End, QLD 4101. E-mail: director @friendsprograms.com / friendsdirector@friendsprograms.com.