A social development approach to support children with academic or behavioral challenges
The Raising Healthy Children (RHC) program, developed by the Social Development Research Group in Seattle, WA, promotes positive youth development using teachers, parents, and peers as agents of change. At the elementary school level, the RHC program targets three separate populations – teachers, parents and students. For teachers, RHC includes a series of workshops focused on instructional improvement, with topics such as proactive classroom management, cooperative learning methods, enhancing student motivation, involvement and participation, and interpersonal problem-solving skills. Parent engagement is facilitated through parenting workshops, and in-home problem-solving sessions. Students with academic or behavioral problems (referred by teachers or parents) are provided with summer camps, or in-home services for promoting social, emotional, and problem-solving skills.