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

"Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative for Durham"
Durham, North Carolina

Durham?s inner-city neighborhoods are plagued with persistent poverty, underemployment, substance abuse, and violence. The city?s location near two major interstate highways has made it a destination for illegal drug traffic. Durham?s 44 schools serve a diverse population of 28,896 students (preK-12. Juvenile crime in Durham has increased dramatically over the last six years, and children are at extremely high risk of violence, substance abuse, and mental health problems. The number of school dropouts has increased by 62% over two years, and many students who remain in school are not experiencing success. The seven targeted elementary schools serve 3,232 children, of whom 86% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Disciplinary suspensions at these schools amounted to one suspension for every four students, three times the rate at the other 19 elementary schools. In addition to the seven targeted elementary schools, all middle and high schools in Durham, which serve a total of 14,114 youth, will participate in the initiative.

The three major partners are joined in the initiative by Duke University?s Center for Child and Family Policy, Youth Coordinating Board, Durham?s Partnership for Children, Durham?s Department of Social Services, Duke University-FAST Track, Duke University?s Child Policy Initiative, Durham County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and representatives of Durham?s social service and faith community.

The initiative will implement the following early services: preschool social skills curriculum for four-year-olds, expansion of the Preschool Behavior Project to preschool programs, and home visits with families of children assessed as at-risk. For school-age children and adolescents, the project will implement a social skills development curriculum (PATHS) and will provide Fast Track interventions (anger coping training, parent training, and home visits) for students most at risk for antisocial behavior. In all middle schools, the project will implement conflict resolution/peer mediation programs (to be selected by consensus). Three additional school-based substance abuse prevention specialists will serve middle and high school students. To promote positive mental health, the initiative will expand the Teen Outreach Program to all middle and high schools, provide in-home family mental health workers and case managers, and provide mental health and substance abuse services for students suspended from school. Safe schools policies include developing policies and agreements for sharing data and making referrals, implementing an information management system (YouthLink), and establishing policies and procedures to provide maximum services to students suspended from school, including transition back into the regular school environment. The project?s educational reform measures include providing staff training on school safety and violence prevention; adding a Student Success Plan component to the Student Assistance Program screening and referral process; training on identifying symptoms related to alcohol, drugs, mental health, and violence; providing information on resources; and establishing an elementary-school screening program to identify at-risk students. To foster a safe school environment, school facilities will be upgraded to an acceptable standard of safety, and two additional court counselors will be hired.

Senior researchers at Duke?s Center for Child and Family Policy experienced in the area of children?s violence and antisocial behavior will serve as local evaluators for the program.

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