The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences’ (UAMS) Institute for Digital Health & Innovation has received a five-year, $3,183,174 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a program in Little Rock schools to help students learn better communication skills, including conflict resolution, relationship building and critical decision-making.
The REAL (Respect, Empowerment, Awareness, Life) Deal program will help students learn and practice communication skills to help navigate friendships, dating, family dynamics and their future careers. It will be offered through the Little Rock School District’s Accelerated Learning Center and Hamilton Learning Academy through a series of 16 curriculum-based workshops throughout the school year, as well as summer youth programs with the City of Little Rock. The Little Rock School District includes 36 school campuses serving nearly 20,000 students.
“The idea behind the REAL Deal is about giving students the kind of practical, real-life relationship skills that make everything else in their world easier — how they communicate, handle conflict, make decisions and recognize what’s healthy versus harmful,” said Julie Trammell Sheppard, EdD, project director and grant manager with the institute. “The whole idea is to give students a safe, supportive place to learn how to build healthy relationships, manage emotions, communicate clearly and avoid situations that can escalate into conflict or harm.”
Sheppard said additional partners for the REAL Deal program are the Arkansas Relationship Counseling Center, Arkansas Commission of Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence, The Center Against Family Violence, and the Arkansas Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Two full-time social workers will also be hired to help implement the program and provide support.