PLUS is Changing Student Leadership
To build strong student engagement and connections we built our safe schools model on the evidence found in the research on youth development and the effectiveness of peer to peer programs. Teams of staff members are trained to manage a youth empowered program that utilizes social leadership qualities to connect all students. A diverse cross section of student leaders facilitate a series of activities that create communication, connections, care and community amongst a student body. Utilizing best practice strategies, the student leaders serve as the liaison between the student body and the adults on a campus. Schools implementing PBIS and Multi Tiered Systems of Support have found the PLUS Program to be a perfect fit for student involvement at a Tier 1 intervention level.
How does it work?
PLUS has revolutionized how schools can effectively use student leadership. Research shows when addressing school climate issues, students with influence can play a critical role in the prevention of negative social behaviors on campus. PLUS helps schools identify a diverse cross section of influential student leaders who work alongside a team of staff members. Together they work to gather appropriate data that leads to the effective implementation of universal interventions that seek to create a positive school climate and an increase in student engagement.
Building a student community where kids take care of kids
Student leaders are trained to facilitate a series of PLUS activities that engage students in conversations and community building. These pro-social bonding moments create dialogue between pockets of students on a campus, which help build stronger understanding, respect, and empathy towards one another.
PLUS Programs discover innovative methods to create awareness for their student led activities. This is a Promo video the PLUS Team at Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad, California created to serve as an announcement to broadcast to their student body. This video reflects the purpose of what the PLUS Program does for schools.
The PLUS Team at Raymond Cree Middle School in Palm Springs, California showing how to engage in some of the PLUS Activities they facilitate throughout the year. PLUS operates successfully on both high school and middle school campuses.
Data Driven Program Development
PLUS is the only youth leadership model in the country that utilizes the Direction Survey and Resource Database to administer online students surveys throughout the school year. Data gathered from online surveys and student led focus group discussions drive the planning process and the calendar of activities to be implemented by student leadership throughout the school year. By using data as a source in the decision making process, PLUS Activities direct student leadership programs and school administrators to universal interventions that address:
- Bullying and Cyberbullying
- Suicide Prevention
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
- Harassment and Racism
- Exclusion and Peer Pressure
- Academic Pressure
By identifying the critical social issues that are impacting a school climate, student leadership programs find ongoing direction and purpose for the activities they plan. Using data driven program development planning, activity implementation will now have significant influence on the social norms and critical issues of a campus.