Voices from the field: Identifying and overcoming roadblocks to carrying out programs in social and emotional learning/emotional intelligence

Consultants seeking to help educators implement social and emotional learni ng (SEL), emotional intelligence (EQ), prevention, and related programs fac e a number of difficulties. One of these is the need to address consultees at the appropriate level, so as not to scare them away from implementation because of all the complexities involved. Drawing from surveys of and site visits with implementers of SEL/EQ programs, the authors present an assortm ent of roadblocks that consultants land other program implementers) can exp ect to encounter, how these have been addressed, and some community psychol ogy principles to guide ongoing efforts. The article closes by using the an alogy of a maiden voyage of a sailing ship to illuminate various implementa tion issues that arise when initiating and sustaining SEL/EQ and related pr evention programs in schools.