Welcome

Established in 2001, the Oregon Resiliency Project (ORP) is a research, training, and outreach effort aimed at social and emotional learning, mental health promotion, and social-emotional assessment and intervention practices in schools. ORP is directed by Dr. Ken Merrell, professor of school psychology at the University of Oregon. The ORP team includes Dr. Merrell, graduate students from the University of Oregon's College of Education, and our partners in public schools and mental health agencies. Since the inception of ORP in 2001, more than 30 graduate students have participated on the ORP team, and are now "alums" of the project. Alumni of ORP are in positions of influence nationally: in school systems, universities, state departments of education, children's hospitals,  community mental health centers, and research institutes, where they are continuing their work related to the aims of the project.

ORP currently has two primary efforts. We are are continuing to research and refine our innovative Strong Kids social-emotional learning curricula, which include the Strong Start, Strong Kids, and Strong Teens programs. These evidence-based  programs are designed to teach essential life skills that will result in greater emotional and social resiliency and coping, and better mental health. We are also currently working on research and development efforts related to an innovative new strength-based social-emotional assessment system, the Social-Emotional Assets and Resiliency Scales (SEARS). Click on the "Current Projects" link to learn more.

Use the links on the left side of this web page to learn more about ORP. We welcome your interest in the Oregon Resiliency Project!