Universal Prevention Program Outcomes: Safe Schools Healthy Students in a Rural, Multicultural Setting

• NCJ Number: 220059
• Journal: Journal of School Violence Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 75-91
• Author(s): Elizabeth Harris; Joyce McFarland; Wendi Siebold; Rafael Aguilar; Ana Sarmiento
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

As part of the national evaluation of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative--which addresses student violence, substance use, and mental health problems--this article reports on outcomes in the second year of implementing the Idaho Consortium for Safe Schools/Healthy Students, which involved three rural school districts in North Central Idaho and two Education Department programs of the Nez Perce Tribe.

Abstract

The evaluation showed a reduction in problem behaviors at all grade levels. Each district's designation of staff charged with reducing truancy and absenteeism may have contributed to reductions in absenteeism. Security equipment installation/upgrades may have contributed to the decline in reported fighting at school. The lack of positive outcomes for substance use at the high school level may reflect the fact that most model programs focus on elementary and middle schools. Also, increased graduation requirements may limit options for interventions that involve out-of-class time. Further, the model programs that the SS/HS Initiative suggests for implementation may not be culturally relevant and effective for diverse ethnic groups. The lack of model violence prevention and substance abuse prevention programs for Native-American students is noteworthy. The goals of the Idaho Consortium are to provide and maintain a safe school environment, prevent substance use and violence, improve student mental health, optimize the emotional and psychosocial development of preschool children, establish and maintain a strong connection between schools and communities, and ensure implementation and enforcement of safe school policies. Strategies include best-practice curricula at all grade levels. By the start of the Consortium's second year, the partners were ready for full program implementation. The evaluation involved a schoolwide self-report survey that measured substance use, violence, and absenteeism. 2 tables and 22 references