Unit backs Birmingham’s 2-1 benefit hopes

The Unit's collaboration with Birmingham City Council to defend costs and demonstrate the benefits of implementing new programmes in the city is described in the latest newsletter from Social and Emotional Learning Update. 

Of the five, two are among the “model” programmes selected by the US Blueprints for Violence Prevention standards agency. They include the Incredible Years parents and teachers training series and Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS). The extent of Birmingham's interest in social and emotional learning makes it unusual among English cities.
 
The Social Research Unit has been helping to ensure that the programmes are carried out with fidelity to their original designs, and to evaluate their impact on children’s wellbeing. In addition, the partnership has been developing a cost-benefit model to guarantee a maximum return on the £47 million investment.
 
The target payback is £100 million over the next ten years. The newsletter can be accessed on the Social and Emotional Learning Update website. For more information about the story, follow this link.