$31 Million Awarded to 19 School Districts to Promote Safe Schools, Healthy Students

July 11, 2006 More than $31 million in grants have been awarded to 19 school districts in 14 states as part of a joint effort by the U.S. departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice to support schools in creating safe learning environments that promote healthy childhood development and prevent youth violence and drug use.

The highly competitive grant program, known as the Safe School/Healthy Students Initiative, attracted 485 applications nationally.

Under the initiative, school districts in partnership with local law enforcement, juvenile justice and mental health agencies implement a comprehensive plan focused on six elements including safe school environments, mental health treatment services, and early childhood emotional development programs. Successful applicants proposed plans that addressed those issues with a thoughtful, well-coordinated strategy that linked existing and new services in a more systematic and effective manner.

“This is a down payment on America’s future by supporting local efforts to foster safe, supportive and healthy environments in which our young people can thrive,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. “These grants will provide students with enhanced access to services and programs that will help them make the most of their education potential.”

Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs Regina B. Schofield said, “Stable learning environments promote scholarship, citizenship and service to the community. We are pleased to help support the Safe Schools, Healthy Students initiative which leads our youth into productive futures by giving them and their families the foundation and tools they need to advance confidently and positively into adulthood.”

Charles Curie, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), said, “We know that Safe Schools Healthy Children is a program that works. Schools in the program report reduced school violence, reduced alcohol and other substance abuse and increased access to mental health services for children in need. Working with other federal agencies, we are making a difference in the lives of children and helping them grow up to be healthy adults.”

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative draws on the best practices of education, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and mental health systems to provide integrated resources for prevention and early intervention services for children and youth.

Since 1999, the Education, Justice and Health and Human Services departments have administered the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, which has provided more than $1 billion to local educational, mental health, law enforcement and juvenile justice partnerships.

The grants are awarded under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Grant Recipients
Safe School/Healthy Students Initiative
2006 New Awards
CA — Anaheim, Anaheim City School District, $2,797,819
CA — Lamont, Lamont School District, $1,569,058
CA — San Juan Capistrano, Capistrano Unified School District, $1,793,149
CA — Soledad, Soledad Unified School District, $1,783,737
CA — Woodland, Woodland Joint Unified School District, $1,900,237
FL — Mayo, Lafayette School District, $953,963
GA — Vienna, Dooly County Board of Education, $977,376
MA — Pittsfield, Pittsfield Public Schools, $2,838,299
MI — Escanaba, Delta-Schoolcraft Independent School District, $786,882
MN — Duluth, Independent School District #709, $2,870,704
NC — Murphy, Cherokee County Schools, $976,593
NE — South Sioux City, South Sioux City Community Schools, $1,794,776
NY — Canton, St. Lawrence-Lewis Board of Cooperative Educational Services, $975,867
NY — Middletown, Enlarged City School District of Middletown, $1,910,161
OK — El Reno, El Reno Public Schools, $1,530,076
PA — Landsdowne, William Penn School District, $1,733,601
SC — Conway, Horry County School District, $961,579
TX — San Benito, San Benito Consolidated Independent School District, $1,877,787
WY — Arapahoe, Fremont County School District, $881,682

Contact Information

Jim Bradshaw

U.S. Department of Education

Contact via E-mail