Responding in Peaceful and Positive Ways is a school-based violence prevention curriculum aimed at students who are at increased risk for involvement in violence. This curriculum focuses on a) building trust, b) respect for individual differences, c) the nature of violence and risk factors, d) anger management, e) personal values, f) precipitants and consequences of fighting, and g) nonviolent alternatives to fighting. In addition to classroom-based instruction, students are provided with real-life opportunities to use learned conflict resolution skills through peer mediation. Grounded in social cognitive learning theory, RIPP targets the interactive influences of behavior, interpersonal attributes, and environmental factors. RIPP’s goals include implementing strategies to reduce risk factors (i.e., health-compromising factors) and increase protective factors (i.e., health-promoting factors), which will lead to fewer problem behaviors such as fighting, bringing weapons to school, and using drugs. RIPP has been included in the CDC’s SourceBook of Promising Violence Prevention Strategies, Drug Strategies publication Safe Schools, Safe Students: A Guide to Violence Prevention Strategies, and the Department of Education’s list of “Promising Programs.” It is also is highlighted in the 1998 Annual Report on School Safety.

Target Population

- Grade Level: from  Sixth grade to  Eighth grade