First Step to Success: Intervening at the point of school entry to prevent antisocial behavior patterns

Abstract

This article provides a description of the First Step to Success early intervention program for preventing development of antisocial behavior patterns among young, at-risk children. A brief review of the risk factors and family conditions associated with antisocial behavior patterns is provided as a context and rationale for early intervention approaches designed to divert at-risk children from this path. First Step to Success was developed as a response to the increasing numbers of at-risk children who begin school with the early signs of antisocial behavior due to the risk factors to which they have been exposed. This intervention program is coordinated and delivered by a school professional who can serve teachers and parents in a consultant capacity (e.g., school psychologist, early interventionist, school counselor, behavioral specialist, and so forth). The program has three modular components: proactive, universal screening, school intervention, and parent training. These components are applied in concert with each other to teach the at-risk target child an adaptive pattern of school-related behavior. A description of these components, and guidelines for implementing them, are presented as well. ©1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.