Summary
The Fourth R, offered by the Western Centre for School Mental Health, provides a lesson-based apporach to SEL. It includes programming for grades 6-12 and demonstrates evidence of effectiveness in grades 7-9. Translated materials for The Fourth R are available in French and Spanish.
Strategies supporting educational equity (CASEL)
Not available at this time.
Implementation
Below are key implementation details for this program. These specifications help determine if the program is a good fit for your school or organization.
Grade(s)
Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
Setting
Classroom, Home, Community
Language
English, Spanish, Additional Languages
Cost
For additional information please contact the provider
# Lessons
For additional information please contact the provider
Program Design
Tier 1 (Universal)
Technology Requirements
For additional information please contact the provider
Staffing Requirements
For additional information please contact the provider
Professional Development
Onsite In-Person, Virtual, Offsite, Train the Trainer
Outcomes
Improved SEL skills and attitudes
Reduced Emotional Distress
Improved Identity Development/ Agency
Improved Academic Performance
Reduced Problem Behavior
Improved School Climate
Improved School Connectedness
Improved Prosocial Behavior
Improved Teaching Practices
Improved SEL Skills and Attitude
Evidence of Effectiveness
Results of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation published in 2009 supported the effectiveness of Fourth R for high school students. This evaluation was conducted on a sample of 1,722 adolescents in grade 9 in Canada (predominantly white). It found that participants who received the intervention reported lower rates of physical dating violence at post-test (30 months after baseline while controlling for outcome pre-test) compared to students from the control group, controlling for baseline differences in rate of dating violence.
Results from an RCT published in 2015 support the effectiveness of The Fourth R for middle school students. The evaluation included 1,012 grade 7 and 8 students in Canada (~74% white, ~17% Indigenous). This evaluation found that students who participated in the program demonstrated greater critical thinking and awareness of the impact of violence on victims, as well as greater positive stress coping strategies compared to students in the comparison group (while controlling for outcome post-test). These findings were especially true for female students compared to male students.
Published Studies
Refer to the provided CASEL for the most up-to-date published studies.
Crooks, C. V., Scott, K. L., Broll, R., Zwarych, S., Hughes, R., & Wolfe, D. A. (2015). Does an evidence-based healthy relationships program for 9th graders show similar effects for 7th and 8th graders? Results from 57 schools randomized to intervention. Health Education Research, 30(3), 513-519.
Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C., Jaffe, P., Chiodo, D., Hughes, R., Ellis, W., & Donner, A. (2009). A School-Based Program to Prevent Adolescent Dating Violence: A Cluster Randomized Trial. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 163(8), 692-699.
Crooks, C. V., Chiodo, D., Zwarych, S., Hughes, R., & Wolfe, D. A. (2013). Predicting Implementation Success of an Evidence-Based Program to Promote Healthy Relationships among Students Two to Eight Years after Teacher Training. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 32(1), 125-138.
Crooks, C.V., Scott, K., Ellis, W., & Wolfe, D. (2011). Impact of a universal school-based violence prevention program on violent delinquency: Distinctive benefits for youth with maltreatment histories. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35(6), 393-400.
Crooks, C. V., Zwarych, S., Burns, S., & Hughes, R. (2014). The Fourth R Implementation Manual: Building for Success from Adoption to Sustainability. CAMH Centre for Prevention Science.
Wolfe, D. A., Crooks, C. V., Chiodo, D., Hughes, R., & Ellis, W. (2012). Observations of Adolescent Peer Resistance Skills Following a Classroom-Based Health Relationship Program: A Post-intervention Comparison. Prevention Science, 13, 196-205.