By STEPHEN BARTLETT
PLATTSBURGH — Area educators will start a new initiative next month designed to ensure students attend safe schools that promote their social and emotional health.
The project aims to extend beyond the classroom to reduce the risk of violence and substance abuse in communities and positively impact families.
BIG GRANT
A grant received by Champlain Valley Educational Services last summer supports the efforts of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students project known as Communities of One.
"This unique, interagency collaboration is one of the largest in the North Country," said Wanda McQueen, project administrator.
"These programs and services allow participating schools to be proactive in addressing issues surrounding school violence, substance abuse and mental health."
CVES applied for the highly competitive grant twice, securing it the second time around.
The $4.3 million federal award is administered by the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services to help provide services that minimize the risk of school violence and drug use and promote good mental health.
PARTNERS
AuSable Valley, Moriah, Northern Adirondack, Saranac and Ticonderoga public schools are among 18 participating partners.
Also involved are the Clinton and Essex counties sheriff's departments, the Probation Department, Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network, Champlain Valley Family Center, Behavior Health Services North, Substance Abuse Prevention Team, Child Care Coordinating Council and the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.
"It brings together educators, law enforcement and probation, early childhood and mental-health partners to create sustainable system change that will positively impact students, families and communities," McQueen said.
STARTING YOUNG
The four-year initiative targets school violence, drug prevention, social and emotional support, mental-health services and early childhood learning.
CVES and its partners will help districts implement character-education and drug-prevention programs for elementary students.
Early childhood specialists plan to operate a family-resource center; mental-health partners will provide after-school activities and on-site clinics; and school districts will promote positive learning environments.
CVES and local law enforcement will work with districts to assess and improve safety and crisis-intervention plans.
IDEA LAUDED
McQueen visited the nation's capital twice to work with federal representatives on project expectations and requirements.
"During my second meeting in Washington, D.C., our Communities of One project received recognition for our community component.
"We were also commended on the level of detail used in meeting one of our federal requirements, which resulted in our project being used as an example to other projects nationwide.
"This speaks to the efforts of all of the professionals who are committed to our project's success."
LAUNCH IN MARCH
Since last fall, McQueen and School Community Coordinator Andrea McDonald have worked with the project's advisory board and evaluation team to prepare for March.
"We have a unique opportunity to build a collaborative interagency relationship that will allow a forum to develop and share our best practices and eliminate overlap of services," McQueen said.
"Together, we can greatly reduce the risk of school violence and the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs while promoting the social and emotional health of our students, their families and communities."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
