Reminder from Our European Partners

| By: Committee for Children

by Carolyn Hubbard

Articles about the Second Step program in international academic journals hold a special place in our virtual trophy case. We are always delighted to read reports about our programs from another country’s perspective, and this latest article has us smiling. “International evaluation studies of Second Step, a primary prevention programme: A review,” co-written by Andreas Schick of Prevention Center Heidelberg, was published in the August 2013 edition of the journal Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties.

The article’s title is a mouthful, but the gist is simple: European adaptations and translations of the Second Step program work. By looking at previous research studies, Schick, whose organization has culturally adapted the Second Step program for the German education sector, and his co-author Manfred Cierpka discuss Second Step lessons’ efficacy, whether in the original American English, or adapted for German and Norwegian students. Their review of research highlights some of the key findings from previous studies conducted on the culturally adapted versions:Faustlos (Germany) and Steg for Steg (Norway). The article covers evaluations of the preschool/kindergarten, elementary, and middle school programs.

Throughout the article, you will find references to and excerpts from the multitude of studies that have been conducted over the years. The sheer number represented is a great reminder of how well-researched the Second Step program is and how seriously we, as an organization, take the need for thorough and thoughtful evaluation. You can find the article here.

We thank Dr. Schick for his analysis of the Second Step program and congratulate him on publishing this engaging and thought-provoking article. Glückwünsche!