ACQ_Vol_11_no_3_2009

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ACQ Volume 11, Number 3 2009 161
Further professional development about child social-emotional
development is provided mid-way through the year and
following this, the KKPP classroom program is implemented
for all children in grades prep to 3. KKPP clinicians support
teachers to implement this program by working side by side
in the classroom for some sessions, which include
discussion, games, music, role-plays and activities with the
optional use of puppets, worksheets and follow up activities.
Targeted early intervention
A key component of the KKPP program is the focus on early
intervention for children who already show behavioural
difficulties. Careful selection of participants involves
discussion with teachers and use of a screening tool, the
Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ; Goodman,
2001). The SDQ is short, simple and easy to use, has good
psychometric properties, comes in youth, teacher and
parent versions, and is publicly available on-line at no cost.
Once completed, the SDQ yields a total difficulties score as
well as scores on five subscales: 1) emotional problems, 2)
conduct problems, 3) attention and over-activity, 4) peer
relationship problems and 5) prosocial skills. Children “at
risk” are those scoring high on conduct problems. The KKPP
clinician then contacts the parents of “at risk” children to
arrange an interview, engage the parent, gather a history,
discuss the program and expectations and to set goals. The
parent needs to give consent for their child to take part in the
children’s Kool Kids group, and make a commitment to
attend the KKPP parent group. For many parents, the idea
Table 1. Levels of KKPP intervention
Community level Community presentations,
conferences, links with community
agencies and media
School level Whole school professional
development
Teacher consultations
Presentations to parent and school
community around social/
emotional wellbeing
Classroom level Provision of a classroom program
around social and emotional skills
development
Teacher consultation
Focus on grades prep to 3
Group level Tools for early identification of
children at risk
Kool Kids group program for
children with identified
problematic behaviour
Group program for parents of
identified children
Both groups jointly run by KKPP
staff and school staff
Focus on grades prep to 3
Individual level Individualised focussed
intervention for specific children
with additional concerns
Behavioural assessment and
development of a positive
behaviour support plan
May involve additional meetings
with parents and/or teachers
Focus on grades prep to 3
Targeted early
intervention
Indicated
early
intervention
Universal
prevention
that problems in social skills and emotional regulation in their
child might at least partly underlie their problematic
behaviour is a new concept and the majority of parents are
keen for their child to learn these skills, especially if this
means that their child might be diverted from going down
the “naughty child” path. Finally, parents are given a number
of questionnaires to complete. A further understanding of the
child is gained from conducting child observations and
teacher interviews, and an individual interview with each
selected child helps to establish rapport with them.
Areas targeted in the Kool Kids group include
understanding, expressing and managing emotions
(especially anger), thinking about other people’s feelings,
friendship and problem solving skills, as well as social
communication skills. A combination of games, activities,
role-play, stories, books, puppets, discussion, and music is
used. The Kool Kids program uses social learning theory,
behavioural methods and basic cognitive behavioural
strategies in a structured 12 x 60 minute program (see table
2). Each group is jointly facilitated by a KKPP clinician and
a school staff member, e.g., a school welfare coordinator,
chaplain, assistant principal or teacher.
Table 2. Kool Kids group
Session Topic/area
1 Getting to know you
2 Speaking and listening skills
3 Feelings in self
4 Feelings in others and perspective taking
5 Recognising anger
6 Kev’s calming down steps
7 Managing angry feelings
8 Problem busters
9 Joining in and turn taking
10 Being friendly
11 Cool compliments
12 Review and celebration
The KKPP parent group is based on Parent Management
Training (PMT); this being one of the most empirically
supported interventions for school-aged children with
behaviour problems (AACAP, 2007). The main areas
addressed in the KKPP parent group program are in
strengthening the parent–child relationship, planned use
of behaviour management strategies, attunement and
communication with children. Use of a group program also
provides an opportunity for parents to feel less alone and
more supported by others. The KKPP parent group runs
for 8 x 120 minute sessions (see table 3). The parent group
programs are again jointly facilitated by a KKPP clinician
and a school support staff member, such as the school
psychologist, guidance officer, social worker, assistant
principal or chaplain. All of the school co-facilitators for the
parent groups and the children’s group attend a full day’s
training for each group program and receive manuals,
materials and on-the-job training and support.
Indicated early intervention
Consultation with teachers around problematic behaviour in
specific children is available to all teachers of children from prep
to grade 6. For children who have particularly problematic