Annual Report on School Safety--October 1998

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

What Businesses Can Do

1. Adopt a local school.

A long-term commitment to a specific school or group of schools provides the necessary continuity and trust to achieve lasting improvements in reducing violence and enhancing educational opportunities for children. By adopting a local school, businesses become more familiar with local needs, develop an awareness of what works in reducing violence in that school, and build on past successes.

2. Provide training in basic job skills.

Training in job skills can begin prior to employment and may occur in the schools as well as on the job site. Participants include potential employees or youth who may later be employed in other settings. Businesses are well suited to provide this training and can adapt their materials and presentations for younger participants. Training can focus on interpersonal skills, computer training, participation in meetings, teamwork, steps involved in completing a work assignment, progress reports, and other standard job skills. The social skills commonly used in the work setting are similar to those required to prevent violence in the school setting. Older students can participate in simulations of starting and managing a business and other complex business functions.

3. Provide internships and employment opportunities.

Opportunities for meaningful experiences in the community can replace or prevent a certain amount of delinquent or criminal behavior. Businesses provide experience and training in job skills to students through internships, school-to-work programs, afterschool jobs, summer employment, and other work opportunities.

4. Provide scholarships to deserving students.

Scholarships provide incentives to students that may be otherwise lacking. They also steer youth toward jobs needing to be filled by the donor. Scholarships may be distributed on the basis of need, performance, or some combination of both. Scholarships are offered for college, technical training, seminars, and other educational or training experiences.

5. Offer resources to local schools.

Businesses offer support for programs and services, facilities for events, safe havens for students as they travel to and from school, leadership and organizational support for administrators, strategic planning services, equipment, and many other resources. The results orientation of business is very helpful to schools and can be shared between school and business staff through a variety of informal interactions.

6. Provide release time to parents and volunteers.

Businesses provide flexible scheduling and/or release time to support parents and other volunteers in their participation in school activities. Parents may need to attend parent-teacher conferences, field trips, meetings, and other activities to strengthen their child's education. Schools need responsible adults to serve as mentors, tutors, coaches, field trip supervisors, and in other capacities.

[What Police and Juvenile Justice Authorities Can Do]

[What Elected Officials and Government Agencies Can Do]