Today in Rochester Business Journal, an article was published entitled, "Building Emotional Skills To Ensure Students’ Success as Adults." Elizabeth Devaney, Children Institute's Director of Whole Child Connection, was interviewed for the piece. She provided many quotes for the article that helped define and underline the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). 

The five core competencies that make up SEL are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. “All of these skills are distinct, but then they also build upon each other to create more holistic individuals who can make these good decisions and use them to build relationships, understand other people, and understand themselves,” Devaney said. “No matter who you are, what your social emotional needs and strengths and skills are, everybody needs social emotional skills.”

SEL skills are important on a human development level, as well as in the classroom at school.  “When schools are relationship-centered, culturally responsive, and focused on building social, emotional skills those three things connect to create an environment where students can thrive,” Devaney said. “They feel like they have relationships and people who care about them and that they’re being supported to develop skills they may not have.”

To read the whole article, click here to view it on Rochester Business Journal.

–Elizabeth Devaney, MM
Director, Whole Child Connection