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

"Safe Schools/Healthy Students"
Easton, Maryland

Talbot County is a small, rural area located on the Delmarva Peninsula, bordered to the west by Chesapeake Bay. More than 60% of the population of 33,054 live outside the town limits. The economic base is dependent upon the agricultural and seafood industries. Talbot County Public Schools serve 4,555 students in nine schools. Twenty-seven percent of the total student body receives free/reduced lunch. The county has the fourth highest rate for juvenile crime in the state and has one of the highest rates of parricide in the nation. More than 50 percent of students had been victimized at school and 21 percent of middle and high school students feel unsafe during the school day. Over 63 percent of 12^th graders use alcohol and over 25% smoke marijuana.

Other partners in this project include the Talbot County Department of Social Services and Talbot Partnership, an anti-drug and prevention coalition. Additional collaboration will be provided by Talbot Addictions, For All Seasons, the State Attorney?s Office, Channel Marker, Core Service Agency, St. Michaels Community House, Family Support Center, Head Start, Easton Day Care, the Inter Agency Committee, and Touchpoints.

The overall goal of the program is to increase students? interpersonal and intrapersonal skills by providing them with a community and school fostering healthy and safe growth. Social work services will be located within each elementary school. This service will collaborate with the in-home program targeting at-risk children and their families to provide psychosocial/ risk factor assessments of the children and their families, direct intervention with students and families, parent education, consultation with staff, staff development, sensitivity training and program evaluation. Five mental health professionals will provide preventive treatment, support therapy and extend aftercare treatment for students discharged from psychiatric facilities. A community mobilization campaign will be conducted to educate and engage youth and adults regarding substance abuse, violence prevention, and mental health. Drug and violence prevention programs and policies, and programs addressing truancy will be created. Teachers, administrators, and staff will be trained in effective classroom management strategies and crisis prevention. An alternative dispute resolution approach will be taken to train students and staff on dealing effectively with conflict. Three community-building retreats will be held to build relationships, develop common vision, and improve problem-solving skills. School facilities and security procedures will be analyzed an upgraded.

Evaluation of the project will be overseen by Linda Walls, who currently evaluates five health departments, a hospital, two school systems, and several non-profit organizations.

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