Program Description

"Teach social-emotional competence—the foundation of school and social success—with the Strong Kids™ curricula! Developed by a team of education and mental health experts, Strong Kids is the evidence-based, cost-effective, and fun way to help your students develop the social-emotional skills they need to manage their challenges and succeed in school and life."

Cost

$44.95 for all curriculum books (e.g., Strong Start, Strong Kids, and Strong Teens). Additional components available for purchase.

Intended Population

• Core
• Intervention

Grade

• Pre-K
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

Intended Group Size

• Small group
• Classroom

ELL/DLL

• Unspecified

Multisensory Applications

• Yes

Delivery Method

• Print-based delivery

Scripted

• Instructor Scripted

Comprehensive or Skill Specific

• Comprehensive

Placement Tests

• No

Accelerated Learning

• No

Assessment to Monitor Skills Mastery

• Yes

Error Correction Built In

• Unspecified

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 student's knowledge and use of social-emotional competencies and behaviors, following participation in the program. Mixed evidence of the program's effect on internalizing symptoms and limited evidence for reduction of problem behaviors and improved peer relations.

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.

Whitcomb, S. A., & Merrell, K. W. (2012). Understanding Implementation and Effectiveness of Strong Start K-2 on Social-Emotional Behavior. Early Childhood Education Journal, 40(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0490-9

Kurtz, K. D., Pearrow, M., Battal, J. S., Collier-Meek, M. A., Cohen, J. A., & Walker, W. (2023). Adapting Social Emotional Learning Curricula for an Urban Context via Focus Groups: Process and Outcomes. School Psychology Review, 52(5), 548–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.2021782

Merrell, K. W., Juskelis, M. P., Tran, O. K., & Buchanan, R. (2008). Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom: Evaluation of Strong Kids and Strong Teens on Students’ Social-Emotional Knowledge and Symptoms. Journal of Applied School Psychology, 24(2), 209–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/15377900802089981

Harlacher, J. E., & 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

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

• Promising practice

Additional Reviews

• https://pg.casel.org/strong-kids/