1. What is Unstuck and On Target?
Unstuck and On Target is a suite of tools designed for educators, families, and clinicians to build executive function skills in children. It includes curricula for both elementary and middle school-aged students, online implementer training modules, free videos, online parent training, and supplemental materials. The program aims to help children improve flexibility, planning, and organization, thereby enhancing their regulation of feelings, behavior, and thinking.
2. Who can benefit from Unstuck and On Target?
The program is intended for children who struggle with executive functioning, including those with autism, ADHD, and/or anxiety. Research on Unstuck 8-11 indicates that Unstuck helps these children become more flexible problem solvers, better follow directions, make transitions, and avoid meltdowns and negativity. It also helps reduce parent stress and creates calmer classrooms.
3. Who can implement the Unstuck curriculum?
The Unstuck intervention can be delivered by school-based personnel and community-based clinicians, such as teachers, speech and language therapists, counselors, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, paraeducators, and tutors. Parents can also create an Unstuck home using available resources.
4. What resources are available for parents?
Parents can access an online Unstuck Parent Course, the Solving EF Challenges book, free parent videos, and tip sheets to support their child’s executive functioning development.
5. Are there resources available in Spanish?
Yes, the website offers resources in Spanish, including videos and tip sheets, to support Spanish-speaking families.
6. What age groups does Unstuck and On Target serve?
Unstuck provides resources tailored to various age groups:
- Ages 4-6: Unstuck song, storybooks, activities, and fun games (in development).
- Ages 8-11: Experiments, planning fun activities, and building power.
- Ages 11-15: Understanding strengths and challenges, self-advocacy.
- Ages 14-22: Curriculum and online training (coming June 2025).
7. How can I access the support videos and tip sheets?
The videos can be found on the Unstuck YouTube Channel. Links to the Tip Sheets and videos can also be found on the website.
8. How do I get my school to do Unstuck?
You can approach the administration or the school counselor and give them a copy of the fast facts. You can also ask your IEP team to have specific goals for flexibility and problem solving. The Solving Executive Function Challenges has sample IEP goals on page.
9. How can I use Unstuck at home?
Parents can start by watching the free videos online, do the e-Unstuck training, or buy the Solving Executive Function Challenges book.
After you are familiar with the language and collaborative approaches, caregivers can start by using the Unstuck language and noticing examples of the child being flexible. By using Unstuck to show that everyone needs a Plan B and that your child is actually already flexible, you make this a positive experience and allow children to learn in times of calm.
10. Can Unstuck be done in a clinic setting?
Yes! The curriculum is shortened in clinic (see scope and sequence here) and it’s important to note we don’t have good research data on efficacy.
There are three models that we know of. Groups for children can be run and parents can either watch the group through one way mirrors, or just receive the parent handouts. Another approach runs a concurrent parent groups with the children’s group. The materials for the parent groups can work with parents doing the e-Unstuck curriculum at home and then discussing challenges in group. If you contact info@3cisd.com you can get a bulk discount on E-Unstuck log ins for parents.
The second parent group approach uses PowerPoints developed by Monica Werner who is happy to share them with you or can be found here.
The third approach is to use the online parent course. This approach allows parents to move at their own pace and be combined with clinicians meeting with parents as a group on specific topics relevant to the group.
11. Where are there groups doing Unstuck?
We do not keep a comprehensive list of all Unstuck groups, but encourage individual clinicians and schools who offer Unstuck to register with this form so that we can put you on our provider page. Please note that this is not an endorsement of the quality of the group.
