Johns Hopkins University Children's Center

The Steppin’ Up Program, a Johns Hopkins Children's Center research project, is part of a larger study which includes three main objectives: 1) to develop a school-based program for middle school students involving a youth social skills/violence prevention curriculum, a group-mentor/coaching component, parent education sessions, and linkage to school and community services; 2) to identify students and randomize them to the intervention or comparison group; and 3) to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing this intervention through youth and parent assessments with outcomes of reduced fighting, aggression, and problem behavior, and increased school engagement.