Question: "Could you please steer me towards developmentally appropriate curriculums to use with students in school settings? I would like to see our guidance counselors and school social workers become more proactive in addressing the social-emotional needs of our students."

Response:

For links to a wide range of curriculum resources related to social and emotional learning go to our Quick Find online clearinghouse topic "Mental Health Curriculum" http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/p2311_01.htm

In addition to specific links to curricula, you will also see links to other Centers that focus on this topic. Note that the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has done an extensive review of the nationally available curriculum for classrooms that promote social and emotional learning. The document is "Safe And Sound: An Educational Leader's Guide to Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning Program." You can link to it from our Quick Find or go directly to it at http://www.casel.org.

You might also be interested in the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s continuing education package for secondary school teachers entitled: "School Materials for a Mental Health Friendly Classroom: Eliminating Barriers for Learning." The training package consists of four modules:

1. Eliminating Barriers for Learning: The Foundation
2. Social-Emotional Development, Mental Health, and Learning
3. Making Help Accessible to Students and Familie
4. Strategies to Promote a Positive Classroom Climate

Online at http://allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/school_modules.html

"Based on classroom demonstrations, pre- and post-programs student self-assessments, one Emotional Health Education strategy seems to be developmentally appropriate and effective for elementary students in grades 3-6. This strategy is based on 7 years of research and development focusing on "What schools can do to improve coping skils that may not have been learned at home, in peer relationships, or in school." Dealing with everyday and inevitable wounding experiences is a key to creating more emotionally resilient and self-accepting students. We have results from using an experiential "game" approach in three, 45 minute classroom sessions. More information is available at http://www.emotionalhonesty.com"

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UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools
Dept. of Psychology, P.O.Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
tel: (310)825-3634
email: Linda Taylor ~ web: https://smhp.psych.ucla.edu