1. Steps To Respect Overview
Denver Public Schools
Department of Student Services
Prevention & Intervention Initiatives
Bob Anderson
Steps To Respect Overview
What is Steps to Respect
Program Components
Research Behind StR
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2. Steps to Respect
Steps to Respect is a school-based social & emotional learning program designed to decrease bullying and help children build more respectful, caring peer relationships. This program is intended for use in elementary schools.
Over the past twenty years research data has accumulated that indicates which types of protection are particularly important. Further, data from the Denver Sample for the Adolescent Health & Development Survey underscores the importance of three distinct protective factors for DPS students. These include:
Ø      Placing greater personal value on health
Ø      Feeling support from one’s family or from one’s teachers
Ø      Having a more positive attitude towards school
In addition to this information regarding protection, we have specific information regarding what risk factors seem associated with greater self-report of risk behavior on the part of DPS students. Particular risk factors for DPS students are:
Ø      Less optimistic expectations regarding one’s future
Ø      Lower Self-Esteem
Ø      Perceiving a greater number of models for risk behavior
The Denver Public Schools, Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools & Communities utilizes this information to fine tune prevention efforts in a number of ways. The most important use of this information is as a guide for program implementation. Thus a number of our interventions target several of these salient factors to increase the cost-effectiveness, as well as the impact of our programs.
Title Slide

3. Steps to Respect: Components
Student components
Skill Lessons
Literature Lessons
Adult Component
All Staff Training in S.T.R.
Also includes informative handouts for parents
Over the past twenty years research data has accumulated that indicates which types of protection are particularly important. Further, data from the Denver Sample for the Adolescent Health & Development Survey underscores the importance of three distinct protective factors for DPS students. These include:
Ø      Placing greater personal value on health
Ø      Feeling support from one’s family or from one’s teachers
Ø      Having a more positive attitude towards school
In addition to this information regarding protection, we have specific information regarding what risk factors seem associated with greater self-report of risk behavior on the part of DPS students. Particular risk factors for DPS students are:
Ø      Less optimistic expectations regarding one’s future
Ø      Lower Self-Esteem
Ø      Perceiving a greater number of models for risk behavior
The Denver Public Schools, Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools & Communities utilizes this information to fine tune prevention efforts in a number of ways. The most important use of this information is as a guide for program implementation. Thus a number of our interventions target several of these salient factors to increase the cost-effectiveness, as well as the impact of our programs.
Title Slide

4. Steps to Respect: Components II
Skill Lessons
Teachers in grades 3-5 or 4-6 present lessons targeted at friendship skills, problem solving, emotion management and responding to bullying.
Literature Lessons
Two units, 7-10 lessons each, per curriculum level. Lessons delve more deeply into issues raised in earlier lessons, such as multicultural issues and sexual harassment.
Over the past twenty years research data has accumulated that indicates which types of protection are particularly important. Further, data from the Denver Sample for the Adolescent Health & Development Survey underscores the importance of three distinct protective factors for DPS students. These include:
Ø      Placing greater personal value on health
Ø      Feeling support from one’s family or from one’s teachers
Ø      Having a more positive attitude towards school
In addition to this information regarding protection, we have specific information regarding what risk factors seem associated with greater self-report of risk behavior on the part of DPS students. Particular risk factors for DPS students are:
Ø      Less optimistic expectations regarding one’s future
Ø      Lower Self-Esteem
Ø      Perceiving a greater number of models for risk behavior
The Denver Public Schools, Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools & Communities utilizes this information to fine tune prevention efforts in a number of ways. The most important use of this information is as a guide for program implementation. Thus a number of our interventions target several of these salient factors to increase the cost-effectiveness, as well as the impact of our programs.

5. Research behind Steps to Respect
Empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of school-based programs that combine adult training, skill practice for children, schoolwide rules pertaining specifically to bullying, and increasing parental awareness of the problem. Research also suggests that friendship acts as a buffer for bullying's harmful effects. Finally, teaching assertiveness, empathy, and emotion management to children promotes their social & emotional development.
Over the past twenty years research data has accumulated that indicates which types of protection are particularly important. Further, data from the Denver Sample for the Adolescent Health & Development Survey underscores the importance of three distinct protective factors for DPS students. These include:
Ø      Placing greater personal value on health
Ø      Feeling support from one’s family or from one’s teachers
Ø      Having a more positive attitude towards school
In addition to this information regarding protection, we have specific information regarding what risk factors seem associated with greater self-report of risk behavior on the part of DPS students. Particular risk factors for DPS students are:
Ø      Less optimistic expectations regarding one’s future
Ø      Lower Self-Esteem
Ø      Perceiving a greater number of models for risk behavior
The Denver Public Schools, Office of Safe & Drug Free Schools & Communities utilizes this information to fine tune prevention efforts in a number of ways. The most important use of this information is as a guide for program implementation. Thus a number of our interventions target several of these salient factors to increase the cost-effectiveness, as well as the impact of our programs.
Title Slide

6. Steps to Respect: Sample