The U.S. Departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services today announced more than $80 million in grants to 46 communities to make schools safer, foster children's development, and prevent aggressive and violent behavior and drug and alcohol use among the nation's youth.

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SSHS) Program supports urban, rural, suburban and tribal school district efforts to link prevention activities with community-based services and thus strengthen local approaches to violence prevention and child development.

This collaboration among the three federal agencies will help these communities design and put into place comprehensive education, mental health, social service, law enforcement and juvenile justice services for youth.  The grants announced today fund 46 new three-year projects, adding to 97 SSHS projects funded over the past three years.

"We know from our work with the U.S. Secret Service and from other research that the best way to deal with youth who are troubled is through the development of a comprehensive strategy that involves schools, mental health providers and law enforcement," Secretary of Education Rod Paige said.  "It is absolutely critical to bring mental health professionals, school officials and law enforcement to the table to address the issue of safe schools.  The SSHS grants do just that."

"Building closer relationships between law enforcement professionals and America's youth makes schools safer," said Carl R. Peed, director of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). "Their presence in schools fosters a safer learning environment and provides positive role models for students. The relationships they build can change students' perceptions of law enforcement for a lifetime. SSHS responds to the most critical needs in America's education system, and COPS is proud to be a part of it."

 "SSHS programs help to prevent aggressive and violent behavior as well as drug and alcohol use among the nation's children and youth," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said.  "In doing so, these grant programs also brighten the future for today's children, helping them become tomorrow's contributing and engaged adults."

The school-based community partnerships include rural, urban, suburban and tribal projects.  School districts submitted comprehensive plans created in partnership with law enforcement officials, local mental health authorities, juvenile justice officials and community-based organizations.  Plans are required to address six elements:

• a safe school environment;
• violence, alcohol and drug abuse prevention and early intervention programs;
• school and community mental health preventive and treatment intervention services;
• early childhood psychosocial and emotional development services;
• educational reform; and
• safe school policies.

Applications—judged for their strength, comprehensiveness, viability and potential for success—were reviewed by an interdepartmental team that made recommendations to the cabinet departments.

At the U.S. Department of Education, SSHS is administered under the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Office.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Click here for a list of grantees, contacts and first-year grants.

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