Safe and Drug-Free Environments

According to Goals 2000, by the year 2000 every school in the United States will be free of drugs, violence, and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol, and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning. School safety is multifacited, and provides for violence prevention (and gang-proofing), and interventions for specific problems such as mental health disorders, child and sexual abuse, and substance abuse.

Internet Resouces This guide points to selected Internet information resources that address the various issues relating to safe and drug-free schools. It is organized in five sections. The first section offers links to specific documents and web sites dealing with national policy issues and programs; the other sections provide links to research, effective practices, and organizations relating to the following topics: violence prevention mental health child and sexual abuse substance abuse The links have been compiled as a "starting point" for exploring the vast resources available through the Internet. Inclusion in this guide does not represent an endorsement by the Region 3 Comprehensive Center.

National Policy Issues and Programs

Safe Schools Act of 1994 -- Title VII of the Goals 2000: Educate America act ensures that by the year 2000, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning. Safe & Drug-Free Schools Program -- the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, a program of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, is the Federal government's primary vehicle for reducing violence and drug, alcohol and tobacco use, through education and prevention activities in our nation's schools. Creating Safe and Drug-Free Schools: An Action Guide -- this Department of Education publication, designed to help school and community leaders, parents, and students develop a strategy to ensure safe schools, contains information on specific issues affecting school safety, research and evaluation findings, a list of resources, and additional readings. First Annual Report on School Safety -- released jointly by the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice, this report presents a comprehensive picture of the nature and scope of crime and violence on school property. The report also presents steps for schools, parents, businesses, communities and elected officials to use to develop and implement their own comprehensive school safety plan. Culture & Prevention Programs and Culturally Sensitive Prevention Materials -- these technical bulletins from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information address alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problem prevention programs' cultural competence, or understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and similarities between groups. They may also be used to assess cultural competence of other prevention programs. Safe and Drug-Free Schools-- a critical issues pathway by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, containing research-based information on school improvement. SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration -- SAMHSA's mission is to improve the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses; this site provides statistical information, publications, funding information, and links to other organizations. The Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) -- established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DASH pursues four strategies: identifying and monitoring highest priority risks; synthesizing and applying research; implementing national programs to prevent these risks; and, evaluating and improving those programs.

Regional Resources

Maryland -- Maryland State Department of Education school safety programs and initiatives Ohio -- Success stories from the Safe and Drug Free Schools Office of the Ohio Department of Education Pennsylvania -- Information from the Pennsylvania Department of Education on safe and drug free schools and communities programs in PA schools. back to the top

VIOLENCE PREVENTION

A 1994 survey by the National League of Cities indicates that 89% of respondents in 700 towns and cities believe school violence is a problem in their community. A U. S. Department of Justice survey reports that 15% of school children have witnessed gang activity on their school campuses, and 16% have witnessed gang-related violence against a teacher. Safe schools offer students a quality education without violence; although safe school plans vary according to the school's needs, there must be consensus between the school staff (teachers, counselors and support staff alike), parents, and community agencies. Typical methods of dealing with school violence have relied on the removal of the offender from the mainstream classroom; however, psychologists and educators have begun to consider prevention of violent behavior as a preferable response to the problem. School-wide intervention programs include teaching nonviolent conflict resolution, peer mediation and de-escalation skills - programs designed to increase mutual respect and harmony. For More Information: Safe Schools: Lessons from the Sites, Issues About Change Vol. 5 No.2 This document introduces important elements of effective safe school programs and describes specific safe school programs at a Texas high school, a New Mexico middle school, and a Louisiana elementary school. Teacher's Workshop This site offers teachers technical assistance and resource information on prevention of school violence. Includes an interactive email project - Teacher's Exchange - which helps teachers create internet collaboration for their students. Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) An excellent site that provides informed assistance to groups committed to understanding and preventing adolescent violence. Creative Partnerships for Prevention This site provides current information, ideas, and resources on how to use the arts and humanities to enhance drug and violence prevention programming, foster resiliency, and implement collaborations within communities to strengthen prevention programs for youth. Annual Report on School Safety 1998 This U.S. Department of Education study provides detailed information and statistics on safety and violence prevention efforts in our nation's schools. Indicators of School Crime and Safety 1998 The latest statistics from on school violence from the National Center for Education Statistics. Schoolwide Behavior Management Systems A guide to schoolwide behavior management systems. Essential Questions for School Safety Planning: A School Safety Survey Instruments A practical guide that identifies what is essential to consider in developing a school safety plan. Voices vs. Violence Resource Kit A guide from the National Mental Health Association for building community coalitions against violence. School Crime An excellent online guide to legislation, successful programs (including drug use prevention, gun reduction, truancy, violence prevention, and youth out of the educational mainstream), evaluations of school-based programs, and the latest statistics on school crime (via the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention web site). Early Warning Timely Response: A Guide to Safe Schools, 1998 -- an online guide to safe schools. National Network of Violence Prevention Practitioners (NNVPP) -- a membership organization comprised of practitioners dedicated to preventing youth violence. Making our Schools Safe -- a U.S. Department of Education tip sheet for parents and educators. PAVNET Online -- a virtual library about violence and youth at risk, with data from seven different federal agencies. National Crime Prevention On Line Resource Center -- NCPC is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to help America prevent crime and build safer, stronger communities. The site provides an On-Line Resource Center for useful information about crime prevention, community building, comprehensive planning, and even fun stuff for kids! National Alliance for Safe Schools -- the National Alliance for Safe Schools was established to provide technical assistance, training and research to school districts interested in reducing school-based crime and violence. This site helps you keep up with the latest in school safety, anti-violence programs and other related issues. back to the top

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health problems such as depression, mood disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder, anxiety, and eating disorders affect one in every five young people at any given time. Serious emotional disturbances, which severely impair or disrupt a child's ability to function at home or in school, affect one in every 20 young people (as many as 3 million young people) at any given time. Culturally competent mental health providers understand and respect the different values, beliefs, and customs of the cultures represented by the people the providers serve, specifically those from cultures that differ from those associated with mainstream America. For More Information: Caring for Every Child's Mental Health: Communities Together Campaign -- a national public education campaign emphasizing the need for attention to children's and adolescents' mental health, with many fact sheets on children and mental health. The National Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) -- KEN provides information about mental health via toll-free telephone services, an electronic bulletin board, and publications. A national training and technical assistance center with a focus on mental health services for schools and for school-aged children is on the Web -- the Center for School Mental Health Assistance (CSMHA) at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. This site contains resource aids and links to other valuable websites. The Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy -- within the Georgetown University Child Development Center, the CCHMHP addresses key policy issues to improve the physical and mental health of children and families. Facts for Families -- over 40 fact sheets from the American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), educating families about psychiatric disorders that affect children and adolescents. UCLA School Mental Health Project -- this award winning website offers information on the project's clearinghouse, introductory packets, consultation cadre, newsletter, links to other internet sites, electronic networking, and much, much more. The National Health Information Center (NHIC) -- is a health information referral service. NHIC puts health professionals and consumers who have health questions in touch with those organizations that are best able to provide answers. The site includes a Health Information Resource Database of 1,100 organizations and government offices that provide health information upon request; and referral publications and policy documents on line. HandsNet -- Links the human services community online. HandsNet is a national, nonprofit organization that promotes information sharing, cross-sector collaboration and advocacy among individuals and organizations working on a broad range of public interest issues. back to the top

CHILD AND SEXUAL ABUSE

Child protective services agencies have determined that in 1998 there were an estimated 903,000 victims of child abuse nationwide. More than half of all victims (53.5%) suffered neglect, while almost a quarter (22.7%) suffered physical abuse. Nearly 12 percent of the victims (11.5%) were sexually abused. Victims of psychological abuse and medical neglect accounted for 6 percent or fewer each. In addition, a quarter of victims (25.3%) were reported to be victims of more than one type of maltreatment Schools are particularly well-suited for identifying possible cases of child abuse, and can play a key role in the fight against child abuse, through effective intervention programs and collaborative efforts with social service agencies. Schools can assist in child abuse prevention through the promotion of programs that educate children and adolescents in developing skills necessary to meet life's challenges, and in offering programs for children with special needs. Prevention efforts vary from those directed at the general population to those aimed at high-risk families to those with proven histories of abuse. For More Information: The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information (NCCAN Clearinghouse) -- a national resource for professionals seeking information on the prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The Sexual Assault Information Page (SAIP) -- a not-for-profit information and referral service which provides information on multiple aspects of sexual assault, including child abuse. The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse (NCPCA) -- founded as a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization committed to preventing child abuse in all its forms through education, research, public awareness, and advocacy. back to the top

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

An ongoing study (Monitoring the Future) demonstrates the proportion of eighth-graders using any illicit drug has risen from 11 percent to 24% since 1991; since 1992 it has risen among 10th-graders from 20% to 38%, and risen from 27% to 40% among 12th-graders. A clearly-defined and solid substance abuse policy is a school's foundation in preventing substance abuse, and should rely on the support of parents, staff, and community. A Department of Education four-year study indicates that prevention programs must be stable and consistent in order to be effective, and recommends further research in addressing larger social influences. For More Information: Your Time Their Future Campaign An award-winning site that features news, information, and resources on mentoring and volunteering with young people to help keep youth drug free. Awards won include the Family Corner Award for design and content excellence, and the World Wide Web Health Award which recognizes the world's best health information being published on the Internet. Substance Abuse Librarians and Information Specialists An international association of individuals and organizations with special interests in the exchange and dissemination of alcohol and other drug information. NIDA Goes to School An online question-answer guide to help students learn how marijuana affects the brain (via the National Institute on Drug Abuse web site). DIADS (Drug Information And Decision Support) Assessment -- funded in part by a grant from the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program, DIADS helps schools develop comprehensive drug abuse prevention programs Technology Products for Substance Abuse Education -- a PDF (Portable Document Format) resource guide to technology products, including computer software, interactive video disks, and noninteractive video disks. PREVLINE (Prevention Online) -- the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) is the information service of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. NCADI is the world's largest resource for current information and materials concerning substance abuse prevention. The Lindesmith Center -- The Lindesmith Center is a drug policy research institute. This site features full-text articles from the academic & popular press focusing on drug policy from economic, criminal justice, and public health perspectives. We also host an ongoing seminar series and send out mailings regarding upcoming events and publications via both email and smail. Sign up here if you would like to be on our mailing list Hazelden -- organization the provides resources for helping people recover from alcoholism and other drug addiction. The National Center on Addiction and Drug Abuse at Columbia University -- a unique think/action tank that brings together under one roof all of the professional disciplines (health policy, medicine and nursing, communications, economics, sociology and anthropology, law and law enforcement, business, religion and education) needed to study and combat all forms of substance abuse. The site provides a discussion forum, personal stories, online documents, and news releases. back to the top