NCJ Number
244936
Date Published
2013
Length
63 pages
Annotation
This report reviews the effectiveness of the Federal Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative - a grant program for collaborative efforts to improve the health and safety of students - based on findings from the 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 cohorts of SS/HS grantees
Abstract
The evaluation findings show that the SS/HS Initiative is achieving its goals related to funding and technical assistance for the development of comprehensive plans and the delivery of integrated, coordinated services intended to improve the health and safety of students. Grantees' activities were linked to improvements in school safety, violence, and substance use prevention, as well as access to mental health services for students. The report emphasizes that the grantees' success was strongly influenced by communication among project partners, school administrators and staff, and the community. Another finding that highlights the effectiveness of SS/HS is the improvements in student health and safety in grantees' schools compared to similar nationwide data for the same period. Sources such as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey for 2010 showed no significant improvements in violence, school safety, or current student substance abuse. The improved long-term outcomes, including the sustainability of SS/HS partnerships and activities, demonstrates the importance of expanding the Initiative's reach into more communities and schools. This report also provides information and data on the characteristics of SS/HS grantees and projects. The program descriptions address characteristics of the partnerships, partnership structure and activities, and characteristics of the operating environment, as well as the importance of grant resources in schools. 11 exhibits and appended 2005-2009 grantee cohorts, references, data sources, and evaluation methodology