Ways Professionals Can Join the KEYS Community
If you would like to become one of the hundreds of professionals who use the BIG LIFE KEYS Curriculum in their work with children and families, we encourage you to learn more by clicking on the KEYS Coach Certification Course LEARN MORE button below. We will send you more information. (NOTE: Using the KEYS for a BIG LIFE Curriculum in a professional capacity requires certification by Big Life Publishing LLC.)
Bringing the KEYS Community to your work or school community can be an effective way to create a culture of support for building wisdom for well-being that contributes to high morale, collaborative teams, and satisfied youth and families. Let us provide customized professional development that targets the needs of your staff and your environment. BIG LIFE KEYS Curriculum was developed by practitioners and has been used by schools, counseling agencies, behavioral health companies, after-school programs and clubs. To contact us, click on the LEARN MORE button below under Customized Professional Development.
Recent surveys conducted by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) and EdWeek Research Center indicate that over 70% of administrators believe that a formal curricula is important to teach social-emotional skills. This is where we come in. The BIG LIFE KEYS Curriculum can be implemented in the home, school, work, or community settings — anywhere there are humans supporting other humans. While the curriculum focuses on tools and strategies for behavioral health and well-being and can be integrated throughout the day, it supports a philosophy through a common language that can improve success in every area of life. It is particularly successful in supporting youth with meaningful group participation and peer to peer learning. Let the BIG LIFE KEYS help unlock healthy communication, collaborative problem-solving and motivating teamwork in a way that benefits your entire organization and clientele. For more information on implementing the BIG LIFE KEYS Curriculum, click on the LEARN MORE button below to connect with us.
To SCHOOL STAFF: A message from the creators of the BIG LIFE KEYS Curriculum
Evidence-Based Best Practices
The KEYS for a BIG LIFE Curriculum is grounded in the evidence-based best practices of
Person-Centered planning
POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS
Functional Behavioral Assessment (Informal)
Trauma
Informed Care
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Social-Emotional Learning Competencies
The importance of social emotional learning (SEL) has been widely documented across various fields. In 1994, The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) created a framework consisting of five core competency areas and correlating skills that provide the basis of effective instruction (https://casel.org/what-is-sel/). “SEL interventions that address CASEL’s five core competencies increased students’ academic performance by 11 percentile points, compared to students who did not participate in such SEL programs. Students participating in SEL programs also showed improved classroom behavior, an increased ability to manage stress and depression, and better attitudes about themselves, others, and school.” (https://casel.org/impact/) Instruction focused on these key concepts has also been shown to improve lifetime outcomes for participating youth. The KEYS for a Big Life curriculum aligns closely with the CASEL framework and builds skills within the five core competencies for parents, professionals and youth. Each key area of instruction provides knowledge, skills and tools to assist participants in strengthening their social emotional interactions and is shown below.
Note: We believe self-management includes self-regulation, self-advocacy and self-direction. We believe responsible decision-making includes perspective taking, self-assessment, social assessment, and civic responsibility.
SEE BELOW HOW THE CASEL
5 ALIGN
WITH THE 7 KEYS:
~discovering what matters & taking responsibility for the impact of your actions~
SELF-ADVOCACY
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
~awareness of strengths and needs & how those impact behavior~
SELF-AWARENESS
SOCIAL AWARENESS
~communicating and creating safe space for the “ups & downs” of life~
SELF-REGULATION
EMPATHY & COMPASSION
~exploring the power of imagining and being~
SELF-DIRECTION
PERSPECTIVE TAKING
~identifying obstacles for change or healthy acceptance~
SELF-ASSESSMENT
SOCIAL ASSESSMENT
~focusing on what you constructively CAN DO~
SELF-MOTIVATION
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
~practicing self-compassion & accepting and being true to yourself and your value in the world~
SELF-ESTEEM
SOCIAL JUSTICE
View a video presentation of results from a record review study of the effectiveness of the BIG LIFE KEYS Curriculum
Professionals in the KEYS Community say:
BIG LIFE KEYS curriculum is part of everyday living. Using ‘LIFE RINGS’ to ‘Connect Up’ has helped my students to reach out during these troubled COVID times. KEYS helps me be a solid object for them, and that’s rewarding.
Sonya BowlesMental Health Professional / Coach / Educator / Parent 
The KEYS for a BIG LIFE curriculum appeals to any age group. The KEYS materials are laid out to make facilitating easy. They are intuitive and fun to use!
Vicki TippettMental Health Professional / Educator / Parent 
KEYS offers multiple tools for parents to solve life challenges they experience. KEYS helps families be proactive rather than reactive in getting their needs met. KEYS equips parents with resources and information that can be used to set a course of action to improve outcomes.
Melissa TateMental Health Professional / Parent 
The KEYS Curriculum is a wonderful tool to incorporate into helping clients discover their BIG LIFE. They loved when they earned a new KEY and it kept them motivated to earn the next one. KEYS is a great asset for teaching social skills for students K-12.
Dawn SilerMental Health Professional / Educator / Parent 
KEYS is an amazing curriculum… I use concepts from KEYS everyday and I teach them to my children. The concepts are simple and invaluable.
Christine InscoeMental Health Professional/Parent 
KEYS for a Big Life goes beyond the standard toolbox of skills and strategies. When we find the right intervention strategy that matters to the student and fits that human need, then we actually see the student successfully navigate well-being.
Robyn S. PuryearVice President of Educational Services, Health Connect America Inc 
It’s important for kids to be heard. I have found with the BIG LIFE KEYS curriculum that teaching
‘Can You Hear Where I am?’ [KEY 3] gives them an opportunity for their existence to be validated.
Billy Morris ViaMental Health Professional / Parent 
KEYS gave me the tools to regulate my own sense of well-being, which significantly improved how well I managed all aspects of my life. I use KEYS concepts with my own family, as well as in my professional role as a leader.
Mindy WillinghamBehavioral Health Program Director / Mental Health Professional / Parent 