Success Stories

Since 1998, Ripple Effects has positively impacted millions of student lives in multiple ways

From the mountains of Colorado to the hollers of Kentucky, from rural towns to urban centers, in public, private, and online schools, and in tribal communities, Ripple Effects provides accessible, scalable tools to build personal strengths, ease distress, and promote success for all. Amid modern challenges, from natural disasters to social tensions and economic uncertainty — Ripple Effects offers support to youth and the adults who guide them.

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC)

A leader in rural education helps adapt Ripple Effects to leverage cultural strengths

Serving more than 54,000 students across 24 school districts, KVEC is committed to providing systems of support to lift the region out of generational poverty and poor educational outcomes. Recognizing that trauma linked to pervasive poverty is a barrier to

school success for many of their students, KVEC partnered with Ripple Effects through a Project Prevent Grant to adapt the look, feel and content of Ripple Effects for Teens to their rural context, providing real world employment opportunities for youth in the process.

quote-right Caring teachers and Ripple Effects can have a profound and positive impact on the lives of students, caregivers, and teachers. As I work with K-12 educators across the region I have seen the impact of Ripple Effects in helping students find the grit and determination to stand tall against the demoralization of the home environment in which they have been born. quote-right

Dr. Dessie Bowling, Director, KY

Together Ripple Effects and KVEC are meeting big challenges

Challenge

Widespread trauma related to extreme poverty and isolation, along with stigma attached to accessing public mental health supports and distrust of experts from “outside” make it hard to scale effective supports.

Approach

Adapting Ripple Effects content to leverage cultural strengths like independence and address hardships, like a parent in jail, ensured delivery of evidence-based practices, independent of educator training, and safeguarded privacy in the process.

Results

Many of our most vulnerable young people can access personalized, mental health and social emotional supports and training without shame, stigma, or conflict with their families’ right to privacy. These students’ learning – and lives – are benefitting from it.

“I didn’t want to suspend the students, but they needed something. My buy-in started when I heard the kids using the language of the program throughout the school, then I knew something special was going. quote-right

District Counseling Coordinator, Rural District, TX

Stagg School of Excellence, Chicago Public Schools, IL

Miyoshi Knox talks about using Ripple Effects when she was AUSL Turnaround Principal at Stagg.

Stagg School of Excellence is located on the south side of Chicago, and serves 500 preK-8 students. 96% qualify for free and reduced lunch and 92% are African American. Miyoshi has a deep commitment to instilling in her students

that each is destined for greatness; each is valued and brings value. Every day she greets them with the message: “you are the good in the hood.”

Ripple Effects is really awesome because it’s learner-directed, so students can direct themselves to topics that are important and personal to them. Having a program that students can actually utilize without the teacher mandating the lesson (though important at times) is also important so that they can explore topics meaningful to them. quote-right

Miyoshi Knox, AUSL Turnaround Principal at Stagg

quote-right Ripple Effects helps my students be more socially aware about how their actions affect themselves and others. It causes them to take a step back and really analyze the way that they are acting.

Educator, Rural District, PA

Users trust Ripple Effects because it meets and respects them where they are, builds strengths, and offers real-time practical support for challenges they are facing in the moment

The faculty members who use Ripple Effects love it! The program is easy to navigate and to add relevant topics for students. Twice a week during P.E. classes, students are using the program in a classroom environment where open discussion is encouraged throughout the sessions. I have witnessed lively, real-life discussions as the educator guides the students through the scenarios. I was very impressed with the students’ connection between their experiences and the characters in the scenarios.

I find we have established a strong foundation in addressing the social emotional needs of our students in Tensas Parish using the Ripple Effects program.

Behavioral Strategist/PBIS Coordinator, Rural Parish, LA

Because Ripple Effects allows students to address many of their own concerns, and it focuses on building strengths, it empowers them to become strong decision-makers on their own and learn more about their own troubling concerns. Students were able to build agency and problem-solve their issues through the use of Ripple Effects.

Associate Director, Educational Cooperative, KY

What I like about this program is it EMPOWERS STUDENTS by providing so many ways for them to access support through the topics that matter the most to them.

School Counselor, Urban District, WA

I thought Bouncy would be a great resource for my students. I had no idea, Bouncy would be even more of a help to me. Bouncy has become a wonderfully, effective classroom assistant to help with individual behavioral challenges, so I can continue with the group.

Early Childhood Educator, Urban District, IL

After Hurricane Harvey teachers and counselors were so happy to have your software and be able to use it with any student that needed help. It really made a difference.

District Coordinator, Rural District, TX

Your success story will be as unique as your school and community

Ripple Effects builds resilience and post-traumatic growth for both students and staff. quote-right

Educator, Rural BOCES, NY

Ripple Effects works across communities with different goals, values and needs