Examining Effects of Holistic School Enrichment Programs

The investigators propose to evaluate the efficacy of a Mindful Movement Intervention (MMI) within the Baltimore City Public School (BCPS) system. The goal is to help at-risk youth improve skills important to attentional, behavioral, motor, and emotional control through engagement of mindful movement practices. To assess the feasibility and efficacy of the program, standardized assessments will be conducted at three time points: the beginning of the school year at the start of the intervention (early September), at the mid-year point (late January), and prior to the end of the school year (early June). During these assessments, participants will be pulled out of their academic classes for brief sessions (1 hour) in which they will complete assessments of attentional, behavioral, motor, and emotional control. At these assessment points, parents and teachers will complete rating forms about the children including assessments of emotional, behavioral, and attention regulation. Research participants will have the option to reinforce mindful movement practices using a family-based curriculum, participating in peer mentorship, and supporting the development of community educational materials.