Department of Justice Seal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AG

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1999

(202) 616-2777

WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD (202) 514-1888

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES $300 MILLION
PROGRAM FOR SAFE SCHOOLS

Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative to Target Youth with Comprehensive
Services to Prevent Violence and Promote Healthy Development

Washington, DC -- Grants totaling more than $300 million will be awarded to 50 communities to provide youth with safer learning environments and help them avoid the dangers of violence, drugs and other destructive behaviors. Under the new Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, announced today by Attorney General Janet Reno, Secretary of Education Richard Riley and Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, each community will receive up to $3 million per year for three years to link existing and new services and activities into a comprehensive community-wide approach to violence prevention and healthy child development.

The outline of the Initiative was first announced by President Clinton last October at the White House Conference on School Safety. It is based on evidence that a comprehensive, integrated community-wide approach is an effective way to promote healthy childhood development and address the problems of school violence and drug abuse.

"Law enforcement alone cannot prevent tragedies like those we witnessed last year in Paducah, Jonesboro and Springfield," said Reno. "But when law enforcement works in partnership with our schools and our health professionals, and with parents and the whole community, we can prevent violence in all its forms before it occurs and give our young people safer, healthier environments in which to learn."

"Building safe schools depends on building strong communities, said Education Secretary Richard Riley. "These grants will encourage vital partnerships among schools, families and community organizations taking a comprehensive, preventive approach to insure our children's health, safety and future success."

This Initiative represents a ground-breaking partnership among the three Agencies. In order to be considered for funding, communities must be working in partnership at the local level. The comprehensive safe school plans submitted for funding must be the product of a formal partnership between the school district, law enforcement and the local mental health authority, created in collaboration with family members, students, juvenile justice officials and relevant community-based organizations. To be considered comprehensive, safe school plans must address at least the following six elements: (1) a safe school environment, (2) alcohol and other drugs and violence prevention and early intervention programs, (3) school and community mental health preventative and treatment intervention services, (4) early childhood psycho-social and emotional development programs, (5) educational reform, and (6) safe school policies.

Activities that may be funded as part of this Initiative include, but are not limited to, truancy prevention, after school activities, teen courts, alternative education, purchasing security equipment and services, mentoring, programs such as conflict resolution, life skills, school-based anti-drug curricula, nurse home visitation, family strengthening and staff professional development. These activities are designed to promote healthy development, enhance resilience, and build on personal strengths. Additional funds will also be available for hiring law enforcement officers to work in schools as part of this Initiative.

"We know that children stand a better chance later in life when they start with an environment that is healthy, educationally stimulating, free of violence and abuse, free from stress, and free from harmful substances," said Satcher. "But far too many children are not getting the opportunity for a healthy start in life. We're working to change that."

The application process will begin today, and the grants are expected to be awarded by the start of the next school year. Awards will range from up to $3 million per year for urban school districts, up to $2 million per year for suburban school districts, and up to $1 million per year for rural school districts and tribal schools.

In addition to the six elements listed above, each plan will be required to include the following:

Each successful applicant also will have to implement an evaluation program and agree to participate in a national evaluation.

The first year of the initiative will be funded out of FY1999 appropriations, with $60 million from the Safe and Drug Free Schools Program of the Department of Education; $25 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services; and $15 million from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) of the Department of Justice. In conjunction with the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grants, up to $80 million from the Office of Community Oriented Policing of the U.S. Department of Justice. Additional funding is contingent on future appropriations.

Applications for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grants may be obtained on the Internet at ojjdp.ncjrs.org,www.SAMHSA.gov,www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS/news.html, or from the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse Fax-on-Demand service:(800) 638-8736.

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