PBPYD Presentation: Monica Fitzgerald & Kimberley Shipman

Monica Fitzgerald

"Let's Connect: Building Youth Socioemotional Competency and Nurturing Environments"

Originally developed in 2005 as a parenting intervention, Let's Connect focuses on behaviorally specific emotion communication skills to build successful connection between children and adults. Every successful connection now builds resilience for the future. We provide the coaching and training that lead to mastery even in the most challenging interactions between youth and adults. We create a web of support around children and youth through effective emotional communication in their daily interactions with adults.

LC focuses on the self-awareness, emotion communication & listening skills of adults as key aspects of their social and emotional competence. We prepare adults to be attuned and responsive in their relationships. By actively modeling social competence, adults help children and youth skillfully manage the real challenges they face everyday. LC has strong empirical grounding in developmental and clinical research and is now considered a promising practice by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and is recognized as a promising strategy in on early care and education programs that effectively address early childhood trauma. Child Trend 2017 Report has designated Let's Connect as a promising strategy for trauma-informed care in early care and education.

There is growing appreciation for schools as a critical social context for children and youth to become equipped to reach their fullest potential. Prevention science highlights the importance of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools to facilitate positive youth outcomes such as academic and interpersonal success. The most effective SEL programs take into account the critical role all adults can play (including teachers, school staff and parents) as models for children and youth.

Let's Connect Schools (LC-S) offers a trauma-informed lens, active skill building, and direct guidance on how to create a safe and supportive school climate. LC-S offers an overarching paradigm shift as schools learn to maximize their potential as a nurturing environment adept by offering universal prevention strategies for all students as well as tailored resources for the most vulnerable students. Let's Connect Schools (LC-S) has been adapted and piloted for use in schools with promising results.