STEP
Contact:
David Valentiner
dvalentiner@niu.edu
753-7086
Psychology/Computer Science 422
The Social Transitions for Education Program (STEP) aims to help students that are at risk for difficulties with transitions between educational institutions, such as during the transition from middle to high school. STEP is appropriate for approximately 10% of middle school, high school, and college students. This program is based on a well-validated therapeutic intervention for individuals with anxiety in social situations, such as speaking in class, giving presentations, meeting new people, and making friends. In the pilot study evaluation of the STEP program (funded by the NIU Foundation), students showed substantial decreases in their social anxiety and a greater willingness to engage in socially challenging schoolrelated tasks, resulting in increases in their academic performance. STEP is currently being implemented at NIU for incoming college Freshmen as a collaborative effort of NIU’s Counseling and Student Development Center, Psychological Services Center, Housing and Dining, and Office of Assessment. STEP is also available to be implemented as a Tier 2 intervention at other educational institutions. Through the Collaborative on Early Adolescence, STEP can be used as an after school program or summer program for students making the transition to middle school or high school.