Ripple Effects for Teens

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Ripple Effects for Teens is an evidence-based program for youth in grades 6 to 12, designed for use in schools and youth-serving organizations. The program meets students where they are—providing personalized support that helps them build the skills they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

With 400+ lessons, Ripple Effects for Teens empowers young people to:

Build core skill competencies in decision making, communication, conflict resolution and more
Address behaviors such as bullying, fighting, and vaping
Problem-solve personal situations, like how to get help with adverse experiences and navigate learning challenges

Discover Ripple Effects for Teens

How it works

Designed for flexible, data-driven use across a variety of settings—including advisory, counseling, restorative practices, and behavioral interventions—to support any learner within a behavioral MTSS framework. The program can be delivered through educator-facilitated instruction, learner-directed and self-paced use, or as part of a blended learning approach—making it easy to integrate into existing structures and reach students in the moments and spaces that matter most.

Why it works

Built on the research-based learning platform, the program uses real-life situations, peer voices, and up to 14 modes of learning to reflect students’ lived experiences. This UDL-aligned, WCAG compliant design builds critical life skills while helping students feel seen and connected—key conditions for learning, resilience, and long-term success.

Ripple Effects delivers!

Ripple Effects for Teens is shown to have a positive impact on academics, discipline, dropout rates and resiliency.

Students using our programs have demonstrated positive gains in academic achievement, attendance, and resiliency asset scores, as well as reductions in suspensions, ISS referrals, dropout rates, behavior problems, and depression scores.

MTSS Model

Learn more about Ripple Effects Program Outcomes

Dig deeper! How does Ripple Effects for Teens support learners, staff, and systems?

Ripple Effects for Teens, designed for youth in Grades 6–12, is part of the Ripple Effects Integrated System (REIS)—a comprehensive offering that supports youth learning and well-being, builds educator capacity and expertise, and strengthens classroom and schoolwide systems of support.

REIS combines three integrated components:

Evidence-based youth programs
Data-driven planning and progress monitoring tools
Flexible implementation services and support

The sections below provide a closer look at how Ripple Effects for Teens—and the broader REIS framework—deliver targeted, scalable support for youth, educators, and schoolwide systems.

Extensive Lesson Library with Built-In Local Control

Ripple Effects for Teens includes 400+ lessons that address the full spectrum of adolescent experiences. Lessons cover areas of skill training (social, emotional & behavioral); prevention (i.e. drug, bullying, safety, health & human development); and wellness (mental health, ACES, natural disasters), among other topics.

Some lessons offer explicit, foundational skill-instruction, while others provide training to target common behaviors that interfere with learning or relationships. Lessons that include sensitive content—such as drug use/misuse, human development, trauma, or mental health—have additional access controls to ensure appropriate use.

To further support local control, the Ripple Effects platform allows leadership to customize lesson availability directly from their dashboard. Sites or districts can block or allow content based on policies, ensuring alignment with community standards and implementation priorities.
Planning Resources to Support Strategic Implementation

As part of the Ripple Effects Integrated System (REIS), Ripple Effects for Teens is supported by planning tools and services that help organizations align implementation with their goals.

Planning Services
Ripple Effects implementation specialists partner with organizational leaders to develop customized rollout plans that align with local initiatives, timelines, and existing frameworks. An on-demand digital library of implementation manuals and training videos, along with a direct-access technical support line, are available through the REIS dashboard to ensure ongoing support at every stage.

“Playlist” Creators
Digital tools to create and assign custom learning sequences - “playlists” - for individuals, small groups, or entire grade levels. Use pre-set, research-based playlists or design your own to align with IEP/BIP goals, prevention priorities, or data-driven objectives.

Screen for Strengths
A learner self-assessment that reports an individual student’s perceived social and emotional strengths and growth areas to guide personalized intervention planning.
Progress Monitoring to Support Student Growth and Implementation Fidelity

Ripple Effects for Teens and the broader REIS include tools that help educators and administrators track engagement, monitor progress, and support fidelity of implementation.

Within the Ripple Effects for Teens program, each lesson includes interactive modes such as Apply It extension exercises, Brain reflections and goal-setting, and the Profile self-insight activity. These support deeper learning and practice, helping implementers assess student understanding of the content.

Within the REIS, the Data Viewer allows implementers to track program usage, time spent, and completion of interactive modes. Enhanced aggregate views provide insights into behavioral trends, school climate, and staff engagement. Administrators can also document activity and monitor implementation fidelity.

Together, these tools give educators and leadership the insight needed to guide instruction, tailor supports, and evaluate impact at both the individual and systems level.

"Because Ripple Effects allows students to address many of their own concerns, and it focuses on building strengths, it empowers them to become strong decision-makers on their own and learn more about their own troubling concerns. Students were able to build agency and problem-solve their issues through the use of Ripple Effects."

- Associate Director, Educational Cooperative, KY

"What I like about this program is it EMPOWERS STUDENTS by providing so many ways for them to access support through the topics that matter the most to them"

- School Counselor, Urban District, WA

"Ripple Effects is really awesome because it’s learner-directed, so students can direct themselves to topics that are important and personal to them. Having a program that students can actually utilize without the teacher mandating the lesson (though important at times) is also important so that they can explore topics meaningful to them."

- Principal, Urban School, IL

"Ripple Effects helps my students be more socially aware about how their actions affect themselves and others. It causes them to take a step back and really analyze the way that they are acting."

-Educator, Rural District, PA

Ready for your next step?

Explore our product preview to get a better look at Ripple Effects and our evidence-based approach to student mental health and wellbeing.

Discover Ripple Effects for Teens

Work with your Ripple Effects representative to answer any questions you have and to bring Ripple Effects to your learners.