FAST Track integrates a universal (whole school) classroom program with a selective prevention strategy for children exhibiting signs of conduct disorder (CD). It aims to prevent conduct problems in the entire school population and to treat or intervene with students exhibiting conduct disorder symptoms. FAST Track is based on the view that antisocial behavior stems from the interaction of multiple influences, and so includes school, family, and individual components. The program’s main goals are to increase communication between the school, the family, and the child; strengthen children’s bonds to school and home; enhance children’s social, cognitive, and problem-solving skills; improve peer relationships; and ultimately decrease disruptive behavior in the home and school. (Note: Conduct disorder, which typically begins in early to middle childhood, comprises a number of antisocial behaviors, including excessive noncompliance, stealing, lying, running away, physical violence, cruelty, and sexually coercive behavior. Early forms of CD are predictive of other psychological disorders, delinquency, drug abuse, school dropout, suicide, and criminality.) The classroom-based, universal prevention component is a program -- Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies (PATHS) -- that is available and has been evaluated separately in this Source Book. FAST Track has been selected by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence for inclusion among its “Promising” programs.

Target Population

- Grade Level: from  First grade to  Tenth grade