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

"Students in Need of Assistance Program (SNAP)"
Victoria, Texas

Located in the Golden Crescent region of South Texas, the Victoria Independent School District encompasses a community of approximately 60,000 residents, of whom 49% are Hispanic, 42% are white, and 8% are African American. Although the region is classified as a metropolitan area, there is little public transportation—a factor that limits access to health care, support services, and academic activities. One of the key problems facing families and youth in Victoria is a high poverty rate. One-fourth of residents live below the poverty level, and more than 7,300 students come from economically disadvantaged families. The district's dropout rate of 36% is nearly triple the state rate. Juvenile crime, teen pregnancy rates and teen use of drugs and alcohol are also high. As a result, the district has classified half the student population as at risk. Despite these numbers, the district is only able to maintain one counselor for every 500 students.

Along with the lead partners, the district will continue collaborations with the Mid-Coast Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Youth Home of Victoria, and the Victoria Juvenile Services Department to form the Students in Needs of Assistance Program (SNAP).

The overall goal of SNAP is to improve the quality of life for students and their families through a safe school and community environment. Over 7,600 students at six targeted schools will be served by SNAP. The schools include Patti Welder, Howell, and Crain middle schools as well as Profit (alternative), Victoria, and Stroman high schools. SNAP will connect a social service specialist, parent liaisons, and mental health professionals with at risk families for site-based and in-home assessments and treatment services. This SNAP team will also intervene with at risk students and link their siblings to existing early childhood education programs. Additional mentoring programs, enhanced drug and alcohol education, and after school activities will also be put in place as part of school reform efforts. A Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program will serve expelled students. Additional school resource officers and campus-based probation officers will work to enhance school safety as well as participate in crisis plans and practice drills.

The district will contract with the University of Houston-Victoria Regional Outreach Center to develop data collection and analysis procedures, conduct focus groups and parents/community forums, and develop pre-tests and post-tests survey instruments to measure the nonviolent environmental changes.

To sustain these viable programs and services, the collaborative partners will actively pursue local foundation support, federal and state grants, fundraising events, and private community and corporate support.

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