A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

"Dobbs Ferry Safe Schools Plan"
Dobbs Ferry, New York

Dobbs Ferry, New York, is a suburban community of 10,000 people located just north of New York City, in which the public schools are the focus of adolescent life. Dobbs Ferry?s elementary, middle, and high school serve 1,350 students. The district has had the lowest median household income, highest levels of ethnic diversity, most low-income families, and lowest SAT scores among its neighboring communities. About 10% of students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch. Half DFS high school students were diagnostically assessed as substance users, primarily of alcohol. In 1998, DFS made more than 365 referrals to mental health agencies for depression and related behaviors. DFS?s middle school and high school are attended by 23% and 29% minorities, respectively. Recent growth in the student population has led to overcrowding. Also located in Dobbs Ferry, the Children?s Village residential facility serves 314 troubled boys, 97% of whom are minorities (roughly 70% African American), and all are below poverty level. Greenburgh 11 Schools serve the children of Children?s Village plus approximately 100 nonresidents. Greenburgh 11?s poverty index is 91-100%, and all children qualify for free/reduced-price lunch.

The Children?s Village joins the major partners in the project?s Safe Schools Plan. Several community mental health and substance abuse programs have a history of working with DFS.

The partnership will provide a training program in conflict resolution to middle and high school students, expand the middle-school peer mediation program, and establish a high school student court. DFS?s television production facilities will be used by both DFS and Children?s Village students in a new after-school program to promote conflict resolution, violence/substance abuse prevention, and positive student behaviors. That program will be supported by a media advisory team, and the students? completed videotapes will be used as classroom resources. The project will also improve integration, coordination, and resource sharing of school-based, law enforcement, and public mental health resources. Strategies will be developed in (at least) monthly focus groups, dialogues, and training programs for teachers, parents, and family members of students at DFS and Children?s Village to facilitate early identification of problems and early intervention; at least one training session for teachers will be conducted each quarter. Establishment of protocols and security systems for, and expanded usage of, e-mail are expected to improve communications among DFS faculty and counselors, Children?s Village-based counselors, and public mental health resources. A school resource officer will participate substantively in DFS?s safe schools, conflict resolution, and substance abuse/violence prevention and related programs, and in Children?s Village?s Alternatives to Violence program.

The evaluation will be conducted by an independent evaluator from a university or research organization with experience in violence/substance abuse prevention and mental health and early intervention projects in school district environments.

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