ABSTRACT
This chapter compares various universal social-emotional programs and screeners. It explains the duration and time needed to implement different universal social-emotional programs. The chapter examines the age ranges and demographic information for which different universal social-emotional programs are appropriate. Promoting alternative thinking strategies (PATHS) is a universal social-emotional program designed to improve children’s abilities to discuss and understand emotions, manage behavior, promote peaceful conflict resolution, and develop social competencies. PATHS targets five domains, including emotional understanding, self-control, positive self-esteem, relationships, and interpersonal problem-solving skills. The good behavior game is designed as a classroom-based behavior management support for students in first through sixth grades, however it has been found to have many social-emotional benefits for youth. Strengths-based universal screeners examine components of student wellness, such as raters' perceptions of student competencies and assets, as opposed to only social-emotional deficits. The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 and Devereux Student Strengths Assessment-Mini are two of the most common strengths-based universal screeners.
