Safe Schools/Health Students Initiative

Promoting safe and healthy environments in which America’s children can learn and develop is the overarching goal of the P.A.T.H.S. Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. Violence and substance abuse in schools compromise the educational climate and endanger teachers and students. Therefore, the U. S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Justice are collaborating to ensure that Federal funding is channeled to schools and communities like ours that can work together to provide comprehensive educational, mental, health, social, law enforcement, and juvenile justice system services that promote healthy child development and school environments that are safe, disciplined, and drug-free. More information is available at: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Through a single application process, the Kyrene School District was awarded a Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant in August of 2003 in partnership with Youth ETC, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, Southwest Human Development and Casillas Consulting for program evaluation. Our grant is funded for three (3) years in the amount of approximately eight million dollars.

The Grant is comprised of 6 elements that are the basis of its programs and services:

• Safe School Environment

• Alcohol and Drug and Violence Prevention and Early Intervention

• School and Community Mental Health Preventive and Treatment Intervention Services

• Early Childhood Psychosocial and Emotional Development Series Educational Reform

• Safe School Policies
   

The project’s plan for addressing these six (6) elements was based upon conducting basic assessments of community risks and assets related to students. Data on risks included: students engaged in drug and alcohol use, and violent behavior, incidents of serious and violent crime in schools, firearms brought to schools, students suspended and/or expelled, students receiving probation services, and students in juvenile Justice placements.

Goals established by the Kyrene School District to be implemented with the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant are:

• Goal 1: Provide students, schools, and communities' enhanced comprehensive educational, mental health and law enforcement services that promote healthy childhood development and prevent violence and drug/alcohol abuse violence.

• Goal 2: Empower the community and its stakeholders to provide a youth development approach in its service delivery systems that is built on an asset rather than a deficit model.

• Goal 3: Restore protective factors within the community to promote healthy child and youth development.

• Goal 4: Implement effective strategies for family and community change and empowerment.

Assets for our school district are: after school programs; students receiving services through social skills programs; and mental health and social service programs serving youth.

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant is overseen by the Supplemental Student Services Department with Samantha Heinrich serving as Project Director.