Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS)

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Category	Type	Target Age Group	Setting	Outcomes	Source of Rating
Proven Programs	Antisocial Behavior	Elementary School	Classroom	Decreased report of conduct problems, including aggression Increased ability to tolerate frustration	Close Blueprints for Violence Prevention (Blueprints) The Blueprints for Violence Prevention list has been developed by a research team headed by Delbert Elliott, Ph.D. at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado. For Blueprints to certify a brand name program as “model,” the program must demonstrate its effects on problem behaviors with a rigorous experimental design, show that its effects persist after youth leave the program and be successfully replicated at least once. In order for a brand name program to be certified as “promising,” the program must demonstrate effects using a rigorous experimental design. The Blueprints Web site (www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/) lists 11 “model” programs and 19 “promising” programs. Selection Criteria: Lasting positive effects in well designed evaluations & emphasis on replication. Applicability:  Excellent for crime, violence, delinquency & substance abuse. Reliability:  Excellent Currency:  Up to Date Advantages:  Easy to use. Plentiful peer and tech support. Predictability of outcomes. Limitations:  Covers only a small number of brand name programs. Blueprints

Description:

The PATHS (Providing Alternative THinking Strategies) curriculum is a program for educators and counselors that is designed to facilitate the development of self-control, emotional awareness, and interpersonal problem-solving skills. The curriculum consists of an Instructional Manual, six volumes of lessons, pictures and photographs, and additional materials. A research book is also available. PATHS is designed for use with elementary school- aged children. The purposes of the PATHS Curriculum are to enhance the social competence and social understanding of children, as well as to facilitate educational processes in the classroom.

An effective social-cognitive program is important because children often exhibit difficulties in social problem-solving, self-control, affective understanding, and self-esteem. The PATHS Curriculum provides teachers and counselors with a systematic developmental procedure for enhancing social competence and understanding in children.

PATHS has been translated into Dutch, French, and Hebrew. It is used in a variety of schools for normal, deaf, and other special needs children in The Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Wales, Norway, Canada, Australia, and Israel. In the United States, it is currently being used in sites in Washington State, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, South Carolina, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. PATHS is one of a number of interventions that is central to the Fast Track Prevention Project being carried out at the University of Washington, Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and Penn State University, which involves 30 schools in North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington State and Pennsylvania.

Target Population

Children in grades K-6

 

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References and/or Published Evaluations

PATHS has been selected as one of the 10 Blueprints for Violence Prevention. A book designed for schools and communities explains the essentials of PATHS, its implementation, and research evaluation findings. This book may be ordered on the Blueprints Website at http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/index.html.

Promoting Social and Emotional Development in Deaf Children: The PATHS Project, by Mark Greenberg and Carol Kusche, is available through the University of Washington Press.
Toll-free number: 1-800-441-4115
Fax: (206) 543-3932

For further information, contact: Mark Greenberg, Ph.D., program developer at mxg47@psu.edu.

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Additional Information

Provided by PATHS Training, LLC, September 2010

• Has this program been replicated at other sites? If so, how many and where are they?
  This program has been replicated in sites worldwide - Singapore, Thailand, England, Canada, etc. and throughout the United States. There are too many to count at this point. The PATHS training coordinator can put you in contact with a site that would mimic your demographics.

• Is there a formal curriculum or program guidelines in place? What is the approximate cost for these materials?
  Complete program: Instructor's Manual, 6 Curriculum Manuals, "Feelings" Supplements, Posters, Turtle Puppet, Turtle Stamp and Pad.
  Complete PATHS Program (Basic Kit and Turtle Unit) $799
  PATHS Basic Kit (Grades 1-6) $699
  PATHS Turtle Unit (Kindergarten) $209
  Prices effective January 1, 2009, subject to change without notice
  
  The PATHS Curriculum may be obtained from:
  Channing Bete Company
  One Community Place
  South Deerfield, MA 01373-0200
  Phone: (877) 896-8532
  Fax: (800) 499-6464
  E-mail: PrevSci@channing-bete.com
  Web-site: http://www.channing-bete.com/prevention-programs/paths/
  For materials, ask for the Prevention Science Customer Service
  Representative.

• What kind of training and technical assistance is available for this program?
  Trainings are for two days and cost $4000 plus trainer expenses. Up to 30 participants may attend and the trainer comes to your site. A one day booster session is also available for the cost of $2000 for the day for the day and the trainer's expenses. On-going consultation may occur at $50 per hour. Training workshops are led by certified, experienced trainers who help participants gain in-depth knowledge of the program's contents and intended goals.
  
  The training contact for PATHS is:
  Dorothy Morelli
  PATHS Training LLC
  Telephone: (615) 364-6606
  E-mail: dorothygm@hotmail.com

• Once the program has been implemented, can an organization obtain assistance with fidelity monitoring or quality assurance?
  On-going assistance is offered through consultation (see training response).

• Can an organization obtain assistance with data collection or measurement of outcomes?
  We offer measures for evaluation and implementation quality but do not offer data collection or analysis. Evaluation tool online: http://www.channing-bete.com/tool/500465A-Path_Eval_tools2.pdf

• Which local stakeholders should participate in order for this program to be successful?
  Classroom teachers, other educators, and youth leaders who work with elementary-age children.
  

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