By STEPHEN BARTLETT
PLATTSBURGH — All children must know they are important, Janet Duprey says.
And they also need to know that when they walk into their schools they don't have to be afraid, said the Republican assemblywoman.
She's not surprised the North Country won a $4.3 million grant aimed at helping students and their families and is confident the agencies working to implement the massive undertaking will succeed.
"I am so pleased this will be a year-round program," Duprey said Friday at a press conference at Plattsburgh International Airport to officially announce the Safe Schools/Healthy Students project, known locally as Communities of One.
18 PARTNERS
Safe Schools/Healthy Students is a federal collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice. It began in 1999 in response to a nationwide increase in school violence. Funding is highly competitive.
"Our project was a result of over two years of collaboration," said Wanda McQueen, project administrator. "Over the next five years, our project will receive $4.3 million."
The Communities of One project has 18 partners from Essex and Clinton counties, including law enforcement, probation, mental health, prevention and education organizations.
The schools involved are Ticonderoga, Moriah, AuSable Valley, Saranac and Northern Adirondack Central schools.
During initial discussions, a goal emerged to organize partnerships that would address the needs of youth and families in area schools. Current efforts seemed too fragmented and inconsistent.
FOCUS ON YOUNG KIDS
Communities of One ended up adopting and modifying the Positive Behavioral and Supports model, which was renamed Supporting Positive School Environments.
"We are focusing primarily on the elementary level," McQueen said. "We are taking a preventive and proactive approach, versus an approach of reaction and enforcement, to problems that manifest in the middle- and high-school levels."
Programs aim to minimize the risk of school violence and the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Communities of One will promote social and emotional health within a positive school environment.
One program will provide clinical mental-health treatment to emotionally disturbed children on site in designated school buildings.
"This will create new access for children who need these services," said Henry Goldenberg of Behavioral Health Services North. "Services will be offered 12 months a year."
The Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country plans to reach families early in their parenting lives. This agency's programs impact school readiness and children's social and emotional growth and development.
ACTIVITIES
Communities of One will offer universal programs that are open to all students in specific grades. They include Developmental Asset Building, which are age-appropriate activities provided to build positive experience, relationships, opportunities and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring and responsible.
Too Good for Drugs is a school-based prevention program that has proven to reduce the intention to use alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs.
The project also offers individual programs that are based on each child's needs. They include activities that parents and children do together, mental-health clinics and assessments and adventure-based learning.
"Students learn skills around cooperation, communication and developing trusting relationships," said Gregg Dahlen, who runs the adventure-based learning program for Behavioral Health Services North.
All present Thursday were thrilled to be involved in Communities of One.
"There are lots of things in motion," said Mary LoTemplio, a school counselor for Saranac Central School. "We can't wait to see what will happen down the road."
E-mail Stephen Bartlett at: sbartlett@pressrepublican.com
