The Making it Better initiative is a district-wide effort to eradicate bullying and improve school culture in every Charlotte-Mecklenburg school. In an effort to create a distinct, evidence-based strategy that can meet the varying needs of schools throughout the district, CMS, in partnership with the Western District of North Carolina U.S. Attorney Office and the Connect with Kids Education Network, provides the strategy and resources to help create a culture in each and every school that promotes acceptance, achievement and accomplishment.
About Connect with Kids
Connect with Kids, founded in 1998, is an instructional media company that produces documentary programs for television and evidenced-based, multimedia programs for schools with a focus on student behavior, parent engagement and social and emotional issues. Using the power of storytelling and peer-to-peer learning, Connect with Kids programs spark emotional connection and inspire positive behavior and cultural change. CWK owns one of the nation’s largest non-fiction multimedia libraries, with more than 6,000 hours of video featuring real kids and teens sharing their real stories, along with expert advice. Our video resources, with accompanying educational curricula, address bullying prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, academic motivation, life skills and character development, health and wellness, attendance, career readiness and more.
Who uses Connect with Kids video resources?
Students, college educators and K-12 staff around the nation, including (classroom teachers, school nurses, guidance counselors and P.E. teachers and coaches), social workers, probation officers, hospital personnel, and parents all use Connect with Kids. Any adult who wants to help improve the lives of children will find that Connect with Kids is a great tool to help students relate to adults and each other. Here are other ways and places teachers, parents and community leaders use Connect with Kids video resources:
| Health Class | Physical Education | Journalism/Multi-media |
| Technology/Computer Lab | Peer Leadership Groups | Assemblies |
| Individual or Group Counseling | Homework | Professional Development |
| Parent-Teacher Conferences | One-on-one Sessions | Group Sessions |
| Mentoring | Advisory | After School Programs |
| Home-Viewing | PTA Meetings | Community Activities |
Research and Methodology
Connect with Kids has been designated an “Effective Producer” of programs by the U.S. Department of Education and appears on the prestigious U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse List. Research shows that schools using Connect with Kids programs experienced:
- A decrease in physical and verbal aggressive behaviors among students.
- A decrease in the likelihood of students using drugs and alcohol.
- An increase in positive social and emotional behaviors among students.
- Improved communication among students, teachers and parents.
Read more at http://connectwithkids.com/about/research-and-methodology/.