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Too Good for Violence

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Too Good for Violence (TGFV) is a school-based violence prevention/character education program that improves student behavior and minimizes aggression. The program consists of student curricula with seven 30- to 60-minute lessons per grade for kindergarten through 5th grade, nine 30- to 45-minute lessons per grade for 6th through 8th grades, and fourteen 60-minute lessons per grade for 9th to 12th grades. The program's highly interactive teaching methods encourage students to bond with prosocial peers and engage students through role-playing, cooperative learning, games, small-group activities, and class discussions. TGFV teaches that each student has what it takes to solve conflicts peaceably and provides opportunities to practice peacemaking and antibullying skills.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the TGFV program is to help students learn the skills they need to get along peacefully with others and avoid violence.

Impact

Too Good programs empower children with the social-emotional learning and substance abuse prevention skills they need to lead happy and healthy lives.

Results / Accomplishments

Five studies conducted by independent evaluators have examined the effectiveness of TGFV. Studies showed positive effects on risk and protective factors related to student violence in kindergarten through 12th grade and related to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use in grades 9 through 12. Among high school students grades 9-12, intentions to use were reduced 58 percent for smoking cigarettes, 50 percent for drinking alcohol, and 45 percent for smoking marijuana. TGFV significantly enhanced students' emotional competence, communication skills, and social and conflict resolution skills. Teachers observed significantly more frequent use of prosocial personal and social skills and behaviors. Among high school students, intentions to fight were reduced 45 percent. These results were consistent across ethnic backgrounds, genders, and socioeconomic statuses.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Mendez Foundation
Primary Contact
C.E. Mendez Foundation, Inc.
600 N. Willow Avenue, Suite 301
Tampa, FL 33606
813-251-3600
https://toogoodprograms.org/
Topics
Education / School Environment
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
Mendez Foundation
Source
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's Model Programs Guide (MPG)
Date of publication
2006
Location
Tampa, FL
For more details
http://www.promisingpractices.net/program.asp?prog...
Target Audience
Children, Teens

Related Promising Practices

  1. Violence Prevention Curriculum for Adolescents
  2. Peace Works
  3. Peacemakers Program
  4. Second Step: A Violence Prevention Curriculum
  5. SMARTteam (Students Managing Anger and Resolution Together)
  6. PeaceBuilders

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Related Content for: Too Good for Violence

An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.