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"Safe Schools/Healthy Students"
Waterbury, Connecticut
| Partners: | Waterbury, Connecticut Department of Education Connecticut Department of Children and Families Waterbury Police Department | |
Waterbury, Connecticut, with a population of 109,700, is located in the western part of the state about 30 miles from the New York border. It is predominantly Caucasian (81%); however, the fastest growing segment of Waterbury's citizenry is Hispanic and Latino, primarily Puerto Rican and Central American. Hispanic children make up 35.7% of the total public school enrollment of 14,770. Over 60% of Waterbury students receive free and reduced price meals. Only 23% are meeting the state goal on the 4th grade reading mastery test. The school has identified 381 students with a serious emotional disability. There are no specific services in place for the approximately 1,500 students who are suspended from school annually for violent acts. The juvenile court indicates that they lack the staff capability to provide follow-up services to juveniles. There is typically a six week waiting period for families referred for family violence intervention services. Waterbury is clearly in need of an efficient, strong and well-coordinated social service system to address the needs of high risk children and their families.
The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Management Council will act as the advisory board for the project. Members of the council include representatives from the Waterbury Department of Education, Waterbury Police Department, Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury Youth Services, parents, and students.
The goal of the Waterbury initiative is to effectively replicate proven prevention programs that reduce incidence rates for a range of problem behaviors among children, adolescents and their families in an inner-city setting. Child health services will be expanded to include home health visits for new mothers. Early assessment and interventions will be provided to 150 police- and court-referred children, ages 3 to 8. A citywide Family Information Center will be established to engage a minimum of 900 parents. To supplement these efforts, a community-wide media campaign will enforce the positive parenting messages being delivered by the project partners. Elementary students in after-school programs will complete life skills training, while middle and high school students will participate in violence prevention programs directed by trained uniformed officers. Up to 100 students will be identified for intensive outpatient services linked closely to their educational day. These students will be placed in a dedicated facility and participate in small-group alternative education. Officers and student teams will apply problem-solving tactics to improve habitual truants' bonding to school. A truancy day program will be designed to engage truant students and involve their parents in action planning for improved school commitment.
The Center for School Action Research at Southern Connecticut State University will head the evaluation activities. A theory of change approach will be used to show the linkage between program services and program outcomes.
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[Newark, Delaware]