Second Step: Student Success Through Prevention (SS-SSTP) Middle School Program.

Initiative Description: The Second Step program follows a person-centered framework and addresses social and emotional competencies including the promotion of self and social awareness, effective decision making, and self and relationship management. It included 15 lessons addressing interpersonal conflicts and problem solving, empathy and perspective taking, anger management, and the application of skills related to making a complaint, diffusing fights, dealing with bullying situations, and resisting peer and gang pressure.

Study Results: Students without disabilities in intervention classrooms reported greater decreases from pretest to 6-month follow-up in overt aggression. Boys in the intervention classrooms had smaller increases in teacher-rated overt aggression at posttest than boys in control classrooms. Girls in intervention classrooms reported greater decreases from pretest to 6-month follow-up in relational aggression than girls in control classrooms.

Reference: Sullivan, T. N., Sutherland, K. S., Farrell, A. D., & Taylor, K. A. (2015). An evaluation of second step: What are the benefits for youth with and without disabilities? Remedial and Special Education, 36(5), 286-298. 10.1177/0741932515575616

Level of Evidence: Very Good