First Step to Success is an early intervention program designed to divert young children with challenging behaviors from a path leading to adjustment problems; school failure and dropout; rejection by teachers, peers, and ultimately, caregivers; juvenile delinquency in adolescence; and in some cases, gang membership and interpersonal violence. First Step is a collaborative home and school intervention program for preschool – third grade that recruits parents as partners with the school in teaching the at-risk child a behavior pattern contributing to school success and the development of friendships.