Instructional approaches that promote critical thinking and enhance social and emotional skills may prevent or reduce behaviors that lead to substance use and violence. Skills-based instructional approaches can be offered as discrete "health education" courses, incorporated within existing courses (e.g., social studies), or integrated across the academic curriculum (i.e., spread throughout numerous existing courses and activities).

Some Critical Student Skills
Identifying emotions Recognizing personal strengths Empathy and perspective taking Respecting others Anger management and impulse control Decision making	Stress management Goal setting Problem solving Relationship building Verbal and non-verbal communication Negotiation and refusal

"Our students need help developing social, interpersonal problem-solving, and anger management skills. [Many of our prevention] activities help clarify behavioral expectations and create a calmer school climate, which should decrease the number of behavioral referrals schoolwide."
Mary Milkovich, MSC, Flint, Michigan

Ideally, skills-based instruction should:

Span at least two years with a minimum of 10-15 sessions per year
Reach children from kindergarten through high school
Include detailed lesson plans and engaging student materials
Use age-appropriate, interactive teaching methods

Be culturally sensitive
Involve peer educators
Include student and family components
Offer training opportunities for school faculty and staff
Be well-evaluated

Proceed to Strategy 2: Connecting At-Risk Students and Families to Appropriate Services