The Wilder Foundation introduced Primary Project to the St. Paul Public Schools in 2002. Primary Project is a national model that has been evaluated and established and developed by the Children’s Institute in Rochester, New York. The research-based criteria are chosen based on their relevance to school success.

Young children who have trouble adjusting to school often act out, become aggressive or withdrawn, or have a hard time getting along with peers or adults. Primary Project is considered one of the most successful school-based programs for preschool through third grade children with these concerns. Research shows that adjustment problems early on in school correlate to adjustment problems in later school achievement and in life. The program focuses on working with children in ways that foster and promote changes in behavior control, task orientation, peer social skills and assertiveness – all predictors of school achievement.

Students at risk for school adjustment problems are identified and screened by school staff. The school staff partner with the child’s parents and teacher to determine if Primary Project is the most appropriate program for the child. Once selected, the child has one-on-one thirty minute sessions for twelve weeks with a “Child Associate” in a specially equipped play room.

The work of the Child Associate is reinforced by supervision and consultation from a licensed mental health professional. Primary Project uses child-led play, which creates an opportunity for the child to connect with an additional supportive and empathetic adult during their school day.

When Wilder introduced Primary Project to the Saint Paul Public Schools, we intended to advance our goals to assist children in their school success and to support families with troubled youth.

In the 2010/11 school year, we are offering programs at John A. Johnson Elementary, Dayton’s Bluff Elementary and North End Elementary.

The goals of Primary Project are to:

• Help children get a good start in school by fostering a healthy self-image and useful social skills.
• Prevent the need for more specialized help at a later date.
• Identify individual needs early, leading to an education program beneficial to each child.
• Improve children’s school adjustment and performance.

Primary Project has been highly successful. Change scores using pre-and post tests are significant at the 90-95th percentile in task orientation, behavioral control, assertiveness and peer sociability for all schools served at 90th to 95th percentile.

Children in schools served are typically low-income and highly diverse populations. Primary Project is not a mental health service, but lies along the continuum of early invention and prevention services that enables very young children to better self-regulate and be attentive and successful in school.

The cost for Primary Project is $1,187 per participant. Current estimates are that the cost of one high school drop-out is $300,000. Today, and for most of our 100+ years, Wilder has worked to ensure that children are successful in school. Forming partnerships and collaborating to improve educational achievement continues to be a focus of our work with public schools.