Fast Track
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Fast Track works with kids in grades one through three who are at-risk of developing a psychological condition known as Conduct Disorder (serious behaviour problems).
By identifying these youth as early as kindergarten, and working with each child’s home, school, and community life, Fast Track works toward significant, long-lasting change for each child and family.
Our goal is to help children become more successful at home, school and the community by curtailing emerging behavioural concerns.
Fast Track is a research based, early intervention/prevention program attempting to prevent the development of serious conduct problems in elementary- aged children.
This program, considered a best practice model, is based on the work of many researchers from the Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group in the United States. Children in participating schools are tested in kindergarten to determine their risk for Conduct Disorder through surveys completed by the parent and teacher.
Fast Track works with these at-risk kids from grade one through three, involving both the parents and school. Participation in the program is voluntary and free of charge.
Imagine life as a child with conduct disorder, difficulty concentrating, impulsivity and short attention span make day to day living a struggle.
Others see you as difficult to be around and unmotivated to change.
You’re unable to read people and know how you come across to others, making it difficult to make or keep friends.
The development of a moral sense of the world does not come naturally. An inability to cooperate and resolve problems make even the smallest arguments seem overwhelming.
Conduct disorder is a psychological term used to describe serious and chronic behaviour problems in children. Children diagnosed with conduct disorder may exhibit:
- Low academic achievement, low reading ability
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
- Aggressive/violent behaviour toward people and animals
- Difficulty concentrating, completing a task
- Little or no respect for rules
- Compulsive lying
- Difficulty with authority figures
- A lack of empathy
- Low tolerance
- Difficulty making and maintaining friends
- Destructive behaviour including fire-setting
Children with conduct disorder have very low frustration tolerance, are angry, do not show remorse, and have a difficult time discerning other peoples’ thoughts and feelings.
Obviously, these issues impair their ability to feel empathy toward others, their ability to problem solve, and their ability to make friends. Left untreated, children with conduct disorder have a 50% chance of becoming habitual criminals or individuals with anti-social personality disordered.
Fast Track Program – An Innovative Solution
Fast Track is an innovative, early intervention program for children who are at risk of developing severe conduct problems. The program began in 1999 and works in collaboration with families and schools in the Forest Lawn community.
There are two approaches taken to achieve these goals.
- Target Child Intervention – Fast Track endeavors to prevent the onset of serious conduct problems by working closely with those selected children identified with early signs of behaviour that could develop into something of greater concern to parents, teachers, peers and the community. The children and their families receive program support from the beginning of grade one to the end of grade three. The premise of Fast Track is to surround the target children with positive influences during a developmentally significant time in their lives. By grade one, these children are already showing early signs of serious behaviour problems; Fast Track provides them with a chance to be successful.
- Teaching Respect, Problem Solving and Positive Relationships - The second approach to help these children be successful is through the PATHS program. PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) is an award winning social skills curriculum used in the schools. PATHS helps teachers assist all students in problem solving, identifying and expressing their feelings and in developing empathy. Fast Track provides the PATHS curriculum and training to all teachers.
In summary, Fast Track is a comprehensive program that addresses all areas of importance in a child’s life. The Fast Track components include:
- PATHS, a school-wide social skills curriculum
- Friendship Groups
- Parent Groups
- Parent-Child Sharing Time
- Home Visits
- Tutor Program
It is this dual approach of dealing with the individual needs of the at-risk child while strengthening the positive environment both at home and school that has the effective impact on each child in Fast Track. When the parents, teachers, school administrators, as well as the classmates, are able to work together using the same strategies, real and lasting change occurs.
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