Program Description

"The Strong Kids Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs consist of 12 carefully sequenced lessons that are designed for maximum impact on cognitive, affective, and social functioning within a relatively brief period of time and relatively little preparation and training. Strong Start—Pre-K and Strong Start—K–2 is a social-emotional prevention and early intervention program consisting of 10 carefully sequenced lessons. The curriculum is designed for maximum impact on cognitive, affective, and social functioning of young students. Students develop increased social-emotional competencies by practicing and building upon skills and strategies learned throughout the curriculum. Strong Start can be used in a variety of educational settings for typically developing children or for children who have learning or behavioral challenges."

Cost

$42.95

Intended Population

• Core

Grade

• Elementary School
• Middle School

Intended Group Size

• Small group
• Classroom

ELL/DLL

• Unspecified

Multisensory Applications

• Unspecified

Computer-Based Delivery

• None

Scripted

• Instructor Scripted

Comprehensive or Skill Specific

• Comprehensive

Placement Tests

• No

Accelerated Learning

• No

Assessment to Monitor Skills Mastery

• No

Error Correction Built In

• No

Fidelity Measures Provided by Publisher

• Unspecified

Research Summary

A review of the empirical evidence of the Strong Kids program revealed several studies that reported an increase in students' knowledge of social-emotional competencies and behaviors, following participation in the program. However, statistically significant reductions in problem behaviors were not consistently found.

Study Citations

Gueldner, B. & Kenneth Merrell, K. (2011) Evaluation of a Social-Emotional Learning Program in Conjunction With the Exploratory Application of Performance Feedback Incorporating Motivational Interviewing Techniques, Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 21(1), 1-27, https://doi.org/10.1080/10474412.2010.522876

Harlacher, J. E. & Kenneth W. Merrell, K.W. (2010). Social and Emotional Learning as a Universal Level of Student Support: Evaluating the Follow-up Effect of Strong Kids on Social and Emotional Outcomes, Journal of Applied School Psychology, 26(3), 212-229, https://doi.org/10.1080/15377903.2010.495903

Kramer, T. J., Caldarella, P., Young, K. R., Fischer, L., & Warren, J. S. (2014). Implementing Strong Kids school-wide to reduce internalizing behaviors and increase prosocial behaviors. Education and treatment of children, 37(4), 659-680.

Ryan, A., Graves, S., Sobalvarro, A., Nichols, K., Schutte, K., Aston, C., & Griffin, A. (2016). An evaluation of strong kids in an urban African American female sample: The need for gender-specific and culturally focused interventions. School Psychology Forum, 10(2), 157-164.

Neth, E. L., Caldarella, P., Richardson, M. J., & Heath, M. A. (2020). Social-emotional learning in the middle grades: A mixed-methods evaluation of the Strong Kids program. RMLE Online, 43(1), 1-13.

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

• Promising practice