Content and Implementation Content Keys to Excellence, Inc. believes an individual's thinking and beliefs that lead to school failure, violence, substance abuse, and other anti-social behaviors can be changed. The cognitive restructuring skills in KIV address the high-risk factors that predispose youth and adults to cycles of failure. KIV is easily integrated as an education, prevention, intervention, and aftercare program. The curriculum is learning styles, and is applied to daily living issues. Cognitive Restructuring Foundation Concepts Recognizing how thinking creates behavior Promotes internal locus of control and personal accountability Decision-making skills Problem-solving skills Building and maintaining high self-concept The importance of personal language in success and failure Belief Systems Identifying habits, attitudes, comfort zones, and beliefs that block change Permanent change requires going beyond behavior to thinking patterns Specific Application to Risk Factors - Units 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16 Addiction and pharmacology Chemical dependency - psychological and physical effects Influence of culture and media on choices - special attention to alcohol and nicotine Identifying and managing emotions - special exercises on anger management, the grief process, forgiveness The impact of thinking patterns on learning, grades, and positive school participation Co-dependent family roles, enabling Evaluating values and role models Skill Building to Enhance Protective Factors - Units 9, 14, 15 The Keys to Self Management - Thinking that changes behavior Goal-decision and goal-achievement skills Six steps to Successful Transitions and Performance Implementation: An Empowerment Team Approach People change by learning and practicing new information and skills. Keys to Excellence, Inc. recommends an implementation plan which both teaches and surrounds students with a common language and approach for change, through the creation of an Empowerment Team. Keys, Inc. provides assistance in customizing the plan to ensure that KIV is integrated with existing programming in a goal-oriented, flexible manner. The plan may include any or all of the following: Training staff to deliver the curriculum to students, staff, parents Training teachers in the use of the KIV ToolBox in daily interactions with students Providing follow-up, application, and supervisory strategies Assistance in setting up evaluation and measurement of results A companion curriculum, Possibility Parenting, for parents, caretakers, and foster parent programs Assistance in large system planning, to develop continuity of programming along the continuum of education, and across state and county education departments