School-based mindfulness programs (SBMPs) have shown a range of academic, emotional, and behavioral outcomes. However, heterogeneity in curricular content obscures accurate interpretation of results. To unpack the "black box" of SBMPs and better contextualize intervention outcomes, this investigation examined the practices, skills, and…

This study explored age and gender as moderators of the effects of a school-based mindfulness program on Filipino youth's depressive and anxiety symptoms, and emotion regulation capacities. Using a randomized controlled trial design, 186 public school children in the Philippines aged 9-16 were randomly assigned to either 8 weekly sessions of a…

Self-regulation is a set of abilities and skills that allow an individual to adjust their emotions, behaviors, and cognitions to meet demands. These sets of skills are obtained over an individual's lifespan, but the acquisition of these skills is highly regarded in early childhood and is a predictor of academic achievement. Students use…

Early adolescence and the transition to middle school bring about many challenges for students and negative outcomes are not uncommon, including academic decline and social maladjustment. This developmental period is also marked by increased risk of mental health-related difficulties. Strengthening students' social and emotional competencies…

"Reconnecting Youth" is an elective, credit-bearing course for students at risk of dropping out of school due to frequent absenteeism, low grades, or a history of dropping out. The curriculum focuses on building self-esteem, decision making, personal control, and interpersonal communication skills. The What Works Clearninghouse (WWC)…

This is the second and final report summarizing findings from an impact evaluation of a violence prevention intervention for middle schools. This report provides findings from the second and third years of the 3-year intervention. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) contracted with RTI International and its subcontractors, Pacific Institute for…

This is the second and final report summarizing findings from an impact evaluation of a violence prevention intervention for middle schools. This report provides findings from the second and third years of the 3-year intervention. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) contracted with RTI International and its subcontractors, Pacific Institute for…

This action research study (ARS) describes the effectiveness of small group social skills lessons with elementary students, using "Too Good for Violence: A Curriculum for Non-violent Living" by the Mendez Foundation. The school counselor and school social worker taught the curriculum in a structured small group of 4th grade students in 8…

Response to Intervention (RTI) is gaining ground. However, using RTI to assess the needs of students with behavioral problems is in its early stages. Teachers have limited tools at their disposal to use as Tier 1 strategies, such as classroom management strategies, or maybe a social skills curriculum taught once a week for 30 minutes. Research on…

Compared the effectiveness for inner-city African-American youth (n=64) of two social-skills training curricula focusing on problem solving, anger management, and conflict resolution. Both the Afrocentric curriculum and the one that was merely culturally relevant yielded similar decreases in anger and increases in assertiveness and self-control.…