MindUP

The Goldie Hawn Foundation

MindUP is a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning program grounded in neuroscience.

Overview

Alignment with Be You Domains

Mentally Healthy Communities
Family Partnerships
Learning Resilience
Early Support
Responding Together

Alignment with Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

Children are confident and involved learners
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children are effective communicators
Children have a strong sense of identity
Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Alignment with Australian Curriculum

Humanities and Social Sciences
Languages
Mathematics
Science
Technologies

Target audience

Early learning
Primary school

Target groups

Whole class
Whole school

Aims

MindUP’s program is an evidence-based social and emotional learning program grounded in neuroscience. The MIndUP curriculum builds awareness and skills to increase prosocial behavior, executive functioning and social and emotional competence in children and young people from ages 3 to 14. MindUP teaches children and young people how to focus their attention, use brain breaks to manage stress, act with empathy and build resilience in the face of challenge.

Program theory

MindUP used the four pillars of neuroscience, positive psychology, mindful awareness and social and emotional learning. The program uses the evidence-based CASEL competencies, which include social awareness, responsible decision making, relationship skills, self-management and self-awareness. The Personal and Social Capabilities from the Australian Curriculum are mapped to the CASEL competencies, and each of the MindUP lessons maps against each of the Personal and Social Capabilities.

Topics

The MindUp curriculum is a series of 17 lessons which work together. Topics include building community, understanding the brain, learning to be mindful, mindful senses (listening, seeing, smelling, tasting, touch and movement), exploring feelings, perspective-taking, empathy, optimism, gratitude, kindness, and mindful actions in our community.

Cost

Training costs vary from $500 to $5,000 per school based on the package the school selects. Online platform memberships will range from $50 to $120 based on group size. Scholarships are available for schools who need assistance (to apply, email hello@mindup.org).

Program structure

There are 2 elements to the MindUP program: 1. Training educators and school staff. This requires a minimum of 5 hours of training that can be completed asynchronously or synchronously. There are additional training and mentorship programs to support adult self-care and communities of practice. 2. Implementing the lessons with students. There are 17 lessons that each take approximately 30 to 45 minutes. We also ask for the educators to practice daily skills, such as completing brain breaks with their students. This takes 5 minutes daily.

Instructor

Not provided

Instructor training

There are 3 elements to the train-the-trainer program: 1. Pre-work (5 hours), which includes reading and completing online training. 2. Synchronous virtual training (6 hours), which includes 5 sessions that vary between 60 to 90 minutes. 3. Assignments for assessment (2 to 3 hours).

Supporting resources or materials available with program

Manual
Online webinars
Workbook

Ongoing support

There are 2 support mechanisms: 1. Online platform membership, through which trainers receive professional learning opportunities, access to a training community to ask questions and resources to support implementation. 2. Coaching and mentorship sessions, which includes one-on-one support from a MindUP training consultant.

Parent involvement

Attend information sessions
Follow-up information provided after program

Origin of program

International

The Goldie Hawn Foundation

Program authors

Dr Molly Lawlor, educators and other experts that advise The Goldie Hawn Foundation

: 220 26th Street,Santa Monica 90402 United States of America (USA)

: +1 888 391 1312

: hello@mindup.org

: Visit website

Ratings

4/4 Evidence

3/4 Implementation

Summary of evidence factors

This is a summary of the evaluation or research study characteristics that contribute to the program’s evidence rating.

Positive impact on at least one outcome for children and/or young people?	Yes
Link between program description and theory of change	Comprehensive
Study design	Randomised control trial
Independence	Completely

Summary of implementation factors

This is a summary of the program’s characteristics that contribute to its implementation rating.

Feedback sought from participants	Yes
Feedback sought from instructors	Yes
Groups program is not suitable for	Not assessed
Training provided during study	Face to face, all instructors, in person
Ongoing instructor support provided during study	Yes

Context

This is a summary of the context in which the evidence for the program was established.

Study Participants	Early learning Primary school Secondary school
Country of Study/s	International
Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations	Yes
Evaluation of program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people	No
Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups	Yes
Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery	No
Evaluation of program in children and young people with disability and/or learning difference	Yes

Last updated: 16 September 2021