Federal Stimulus FAQ
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Frequently Asked Questions
2. How do Committee for Children programs align with the five main goals of the ARRA?
a. Achieve rapid results
b. Employ people (or keep them employed)
c. Document results to help change public confidence in America’s direction
d. Show ROI (return on investment) in 12 to 24 months
e. Achieve as many important outcomes as possible
a. Achieve rapid results
Educators who implement the SECOND STEP or STEPS TO RESPECT program with fidelity often see an improvement in classroom and school climate within the first year of implementation. Results tend to continue to improve over the course of several years. For example, Florence Griffith-Joyner Elementary School saw a steady drop in office referrals of at least 100 per year after implementing the SECOND STEP program. And a rigorous study of the STEPS TO RESPECT program showed a reduction in bullying incidents after twelve weeks of implementation.
b. Employ people (or keep them employed)
There is a problem with teacher attrition in American schools, and many teachers leave because of difficulties with classroom management, school climate, lack of administrator support, and lack of professional development opportunities. Read about how our programs address issues contributing to teacher attrition.
Training and professional development help keep teachers in their jobs. We provide training for all of our programs. We also offer “training for trainers” sessions so educators can learn to train others to teach our SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs, and there is a training for implementing the family component of the SECOND STEP program. Read more about Committee for Children trainings.
c. Document results to help change public confidence in America’s direction
Americans are often told how far we lag behind other developed countries in academic achievement, especially math and the sciences. This can contribute to a lack of confidence in America’s direction. The underlying goal of all four Committee for Children programs is to foster academic achievement and student success by teaching social and emotional skills and reducing risk factors such as violence, bullying, and drug abuse. It is in America’s best interests to ensure that every child has access to curricula that can help build these skills.
Read more about how our programs support academic achievement.
d. Show ROI (return on investment) in 12 to 24 months
Educators who implement the SECOND STEP or STEPS TO RESPECT program with fidelity often see an improvement in classroom and school climate within the first year of implementation. Results tend to continue to improve over the course of several years. For example, Florence Griffith-Joyner Elementary School saw a steady drop in office referrals of at least 100 per year after implementing the SECOND STEP program. And a rigorous study of the STEPS TO RESPECT program showed a reduction in bullying incidents after twelve weeks of implementation.
e. Achieve as many important outcomes as possible
One important goal of the ARRA is to make improvements in the following areas. Below is a short summary of how our programs align with the goal areas.
Healthcare costs: Children who can avoid alcohol and other drugs and settle their differences without violence will require less time in hospitals, emergency rooms, and clinics.
Educational achievement: Read about our programs and academic achievement.
Public safety: See healthcare costs, above.
Increase confidence in the economy: The SECOND STEP program gives children the skills they need to succeed in school and in life. A student or employee who knows how to communicate effectively, manage her emotions, problem solve, and settle differences peacefully is much more likely to succeed in her chosen field and therefore contribute positively to the economy.
Increase entrepreneurial products and economic competitiveness: Committee for Children was founded 30 years ago by parents who wanted a better world for their children. The organization has kept that entrepreneurial spirit alive by partnering with other grassroots organizations, both national and international, to distribute products that can help teachers transfer learning and create connections with academic subjects and a wide range of books that contribute to educators’ professional development.
