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Increase Program Length

Outcome

Social Competence

Intervention Family

Academic-Educational Interventions

Increase Program Length

Evidence

The nine academic-educational interventions whose length was greater than 30 weeks showed greater improvement in social competence than those of shorter duration.

Offering academic and educational programs over a longer time horizon such as a full school year gives program providers more opportunities to model and support student social competence. Without the time constraints faced by shorter duration programs, providers can deliver the academic content that is critical for academic and educational interventions and integrate additional content or activities that promote social skills. Participant engagement in any program is a key element of success. Longer programs may provide the necessary time required to build that engagement, give students ample time to practice their skills, and create more occasions to allow them to build trusting relationships with peers and adults.

Assess Feasibility

  • Program content.
    Consider what program elements could be added or expanded through increasing the current program length. Would additional time allow you to add new interpersonal skills content – or better reinforce existing content?
  • Program setting.
    Assess whether the setting for your program can accommodate a longer program in its schedule.
  • Program integration.
    Explore whether existing school-year long activities or curricula have opportunities to incorporate or reinforce additional content.

Take Action

Consider any of the following courses of action depending on the results of your feasibility assessment:

  • Identify content elements that can be added to your program or curriculum to extend its length, and how and when they might be incorporated.
  • Review session type and sequence to specify points at which different types of sessions might be added.
  • Consider additional supports needed to maintain students’ interest in the intervention over a longer period of time. For example, involve students in planning fun activities and ways to keep the sessions positive; offer incentives or rewards for attendance; follow up with students who miss a session and offer a make-up; cultivate a supportive, safe environment where students encourage each other to engage.
  • If feasible, integrate the intervention into existing school-year long activities or curricula.
  • Evaluate possible sources of additional funding that might be available to cover the additional costs of a longer program.