NCJ Number
244935
Date Published
2013
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This report presents an overview of the features and effectiveness of the Federal Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative (SS/HSI), which was launched in 1999 to promote a comprehensive effort to improve the mental, emotional, and behavioral health of students and increase their confidence in being safe at school.
Abstract
An independent evaluation of the impact of SS/HSI found that fewer students reported that they had experienced violence (7-percent decrease since grant awards); fewer students reported that they had witnessed violence (4-percent decline); 96 percent of school staff said the SS/HSI had improved school safety; and nearly 80 percent of school staff said the program had reduced violence in their community. The evaluation focused on 50 grantees that received funding under the Initiative beginning in 2005 and 2006. Located in urban, rural, suburban, and tribal areas in 30 States and the District of Columbia, the grantees served just over 1 million students in 1,473 schools in 125 school districts. The evaluation integrated quantitative and qualitative data drawn from the following sources: grant applications and performance reports; public information and census data; site visits during the first year of the grant; annual online surveys of grant project directors and school staff; telephone interviews with project directors; annual outcome data; and focus groups with project directors and local partners. The Initiative is a joint effort of the Federal Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Justice. The grants are given to school districts that establish collaborations among community agencies in establishing programs that address school violence, bullying, emotional distress, and substance abuse. 5 references