Paper 1 focuses on how research is used in the development and continuous improvement processes of Second Step programs for youth in out-of-school time and middle school contexts. In particular, this paper highlights the importance of using research to engage stakeholders throughout the program development and continuous improvement processes.
Paper 2 reports on findings from a multi-country randomized control trial of an SEL program, Think Equal, for preschool-aged youth. The international scope of the work provides a global perspective on the efficacy of SEL interventions for promoting positive youth outcomes and highlights important considerations for fidelity across cultural contexts.
Paper 3 adds to the emerging field of implementation science by utilizing HLM techniques to examine key implementation factors at the school and individual level. This longitudinal study of PATHS implementation offers a unique, robust approach to understanding how the ecology of implementation influences child outcomes.
Together these papers provide a comprehensive view of the development and testing of interventions- from the early stages of program development, to international adaptation and adoption, and testing of multi-year implementation. The symposium will conclude with a discussant highlighting connections across the papers and suggesting directions for future research.
Committee for Children: employer