One of our professional development goals is creating an SEL Strategic Action Plan (SSAP) artifact. The SSAP provides educators and parents with an in-depth understanding of risks and protective factors. Risk factors are the challenges one faces. Protective factors minimize or eliminate the risk factors. Every student has a combination of risk and protective factors at home, in school and in their communities. If not addressed, negative behaviors can lead to more risks.
Our workshops help participants to explore strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) that affect family, school, and community. Next, interventions are applied to address each vulnerable area on the SWOT matrix. Once all three areas are identified and addressed through SEL strategies, participants develop a SWOT analysis, resulting in a comprehensive SSAP.
When Charisse provides professional development on Risk and Protective Factors, she divides participants into three groups (family, school and community) to brainstorm and share interventions for areas of weaknesses and threats that negatively impact growth and success of the family, schcool, and their community.
