| Safe Communities ~ Safe Schools Initiative |
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In an effort to address the immediate concerns of the
Colorado education community, the Center for the Study
and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) of the University
of Colorado, introduced the Safe Communities~Safe Schools
Initiative in the fall of 1999. This Initiative has
been made possible by the support of several key Colorado
educational and political agencies that serve as Partners
of the Initiative. The Safe Communities~Safe Schools
Partnership includes: The Colorado Trust, Colorado Attorney
General, Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB),
Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), Colorado
Department of Education (CDE), Colorado Department of
Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), Colorado
Education Association (CEA), Colorado Federation of
Teachers (CFT), Coors Brewing Company, Front Range and
Metro Denver Safe and Drug-Free School Coordinators,
and the University of Colorado. This project will consist
of the following strategies that will be available to
all school communities in Colorado:
Safe Communities~Safe Schools Model
CSPV staff has introduced the Safe Communities~Safe
Schools to educators, law enforcement officers, politicians
and community members throughout Colorado. CSPV developed
the Safe Communities~Safe Schools Model to assist
each school in designing an individualized safe school
plan. The goal of this model is to create and maintain
a positive and welcoming school climate, free of drugs,
violence, intimidation and fear—an environment
strongly supported by the community in which teachers
can teach and students can learn. (Details available
in the Safe Communities~Safe Schools Model fact sheet.)
Technical Assistance
CSPV staff is available to schools and school districts
for technical assistance concerning the Safe Communities~Safe
Schools Model by telephone, email, listserv or through
a limited number of school site visits. Technical
assistance can be provided regarding the components
of the Safe Communities~Safe Schools Model including,
the strategic planning process, creating a safe school
planning team, conducting a school site assessment,
establishing a social support team, and identifying
effective strategies for implementation. Site visits
will be determined based on the number of requests
received.
Publications
The CSPV Information House will develop, publish,
and disseminate the following publications to all
Colorado school communities:
Planning Guide—specific
components of a safe school plan will be discussed
in this guidebook, including the safe school planning
team, community and school assessments, social support
team, effective strategies for implementation, crisis
response plan, etc.
School-Based Programs
for Violence Prevention—descriptions
and effectiveness of school-based violence and drug
prevention programs that have been implemented around
the country as well as promising Colorado school-based
programs will be included.
Youth Violence:Causes
and Dynamics—a tool for educators to
use in understanding youth violence, developing safe
school plans and selecting suitable violence prevention
programming that meet the need of their school communities.
Safe Communities~Safe
Schools Assessment Instruments—actual
instruments and surveys that can be used in completing
a annual school site assessment.
School Violence
Prevention Fact Sheets—a variety of topics
will be covered, such as safe school planning, youth
violence, after-school activities, juvenile aggression,
etc.
Web Site
A Safe Communities~Safe
Schools interactive web site is available to
provide school violence prevention information including
fact sheets, database searches for school violence
prevention literature, programs and resources, online
surveys, online magazine, and school violence statistics.
Information House
CSPV is available daily by phone, fax, mail and in
person, to provide information, publications, database
searches, and resources to community members and educators
interested in safe school planning.
Media Campaign
CSPV launched the Safe Communities~Safe Schools media
campaign in conjunction with the University of Colorado
Public Relations Office. Public Service Announcements
were aired by local television and radio networks,
and a press release was disseminated. CSPV has also
worked closely with the Colorado Attorney General's
Office to provide the citizens of the state of Colorado
with information about the Safe Communities ~ Safe
Schools Initiative.
Long-Term Response Plan
More in-depth training and technical assistance regarding
the Safe Communities~Safe Schools model is being provided
to a select group of 16 Colorado schools and districts.
These sites were selected based on an application
process that reviewed the location, need, and overall
commitment on behalf of the community and its school(s).
