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

"Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative"
Tyrone, Pennsylvania

The Tyrone School district is located in rural Blair County in southwestern Pennsylvania. A recent survey revealed isolation due to low income, lack of transportation, and lack of social services. No after-school programs exist in the Tyrone area, and recreational opportunities are limited. In 1996-97, 68% of elementary students in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods qualified for free/reduced lunch. By the time they enter high school, two thirds of students report initiating alcohol use, and one third report regular alcohol use by age 15; a large proportion also report inhalant abuse. About 70% of students were involved in disciplinary actions in 1996-97. Economic disparity

has fostered a high degree of social tension in the schools; almost 30% of high school students reported being in trouble with police. Early childhood resources are scarce; the closest community mental health services are located 20 miles from Tyrone; one school resource officer (SRO) gives 10 percent time to the district; and no probation officer serves Tyrone.

Major initiative partners are members of the Tyrone Area Prevention Partnership, a well-established coalition of school personnel, community business owners, community health and mental health service agencies, and local law enforcement representatives. Other participants are Pennsylvania State University prevention scientists (long-time partners with the school district), Tyrone Community Family Center, Head Start, and County of Blair Juvenile Probation Office.

The Tyrone initiative?s early childhood outreach and prevention services, including home visiting and screening, transition support for preschoolers, and kindergarten screening and enrichment, are expected to improve school readiness and minimize numbers of first-graders at risk for adjustment problems. Elementary school components include evidence-based social skills development programs, building family-school partnerships, creating a playground aggression-reduction program, offering family enrichment, and instituting after-school and home-visiting programs. Secondary school components include extending the peer mediation program, a middle school transition program, an academic support program, and hiring a school-based probation officer. A school-based mental health office will be established, and elementary and secondary Safe Schools/Healthy Students coordinators will coordinate preventive, treatment, and other intervention activities. A comprehensive school safety plan will be developed, an interdisciplinary summer training institute held for school personnel, a community outreach media campaign conducted, and the role of a full-time school resource officer developed.

Experienced researchers from Pennsylvania State University will conduct the project?s sophisticated evaluation plan.

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