Second Step

www.cfchildren.org/programs/ssp/overview/

Prevention; Ages 4–14

Risk Factors

Individual: Antisocial/delinquent beliefs; Conduct disorders (authority conflict/rebellious/stubborn/disruptive/antisocial); Early and persistent noncompliant behavior; Hyperactive (impulsive, attention problems)

School: Poor school attitude/performance; academic failure; Poorly organized and functioning schools/inadequate school climate/negative labeling by teachers

Description

Second Step is a classroom-based social skills program for preschool through junior high students (4 to 14 years old). It is designed to reduce impulsive, high-risk, and aggressive behaviors and increase children’s social-emotional competence and other protective factors.

Group discussion, modeling, coaching, and practice are used to increase students’ social competence, risk assessment, decision-making ability, self-regulation, and positive goal setting. The program’s lesson content varies by grade level and is organized into three skill-building units covering:

Empathy—teaches young people to identify and understand their own emotions and those of others.
Impulse control and problem solving—helps young people choose positive goals; reduce impulsiveness; and evaluate consequences of their behavior in terms of safety, fairness, and impact on others.
Anger management—enables young people to manage emotional reactions and engage in decision making when they are highly aroused.

Compared to the control group, Second Step participants showed:

20 percent reduction in physical aggression during lunchtime and recess (compared to control group, which increased 41 percent).
10 percent increase in positive social behavior during lunchtime and recess.
36 percent less aggressive behavior during conflict/arousing situations.
41 percent reduction in the need for adult intervention during conflicts.
37 percent more likely to choose positive social goals.

Second Step has been proven effective in geographically diverse U.S. and Canadian cities, in classrooms varying in ethnic/racial makeup (predominantly African-American, predominantly white, or highly racially mixed), and in schools with students of varied socioeconomic status. Second Step is widely used in the United States and Canada and has been adapted for use in several other countries. Spanish-language supplements are available.

Endorsements

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Model program

U.S. Department of Education: Exemplary program

Contact

Ms. Barbara Guzzo
Committee for Children
Client Support Services Department
568 First Avenue, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (800) 634-4449
Fax: (206) 438-6765
E-mail: info@cfchildren.org
Web site: http://www.cfchildren.org/programs/

References

Grossman, D. C.; Neckerman, H. J.; Koepsell, T. D.; Asher, K.; Liu, P. Y.; Beland, K. N.; et al. (1997). “A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Violence Prevention Curriculum Among Elementary School Children.” Journal of the American Medical Association, 277:1605–1611.