Second Step Middle School Program: Student Success through Prevention. Developed by Committee for Children, this evidence-based curriculum targets substance abuse, bullying, and violence prevention. It promotes the development of empathy, positive communication, and emotion management; and coping, problem solving, decision making, and goal-setting skills. These positive factors enhance stress management. There are 13-15 lessons for each middle school grade: six, seven, and eight. These lessons use interactive teaching methods and media to engage students to make positive choices and support social emotional learning. It includes targeted lessons on cyberbullying. The comprehensive curriculum advocates a community-wide approach that links school personnel and parents to support common goals. These goals are designed to increase protective factors, such as school “connectedness” (i.e., students sense that they have at least one adult in the school that they feel connected to) and social skills development (such as assertive communication skills and positive peer relationships). The Second Step program is designed to create a peer environment where thoughtful decision making is encouraged and substance abuse is rejected.