Violence Prevention

Safe, nonviolent school environments are essential to learning. The Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative exemplifies how schools and communities can address school violence prevention by forming strong, districtwide partnerships that work together to assess school and community needs and build community commitment to addressing violence. Working collaboratively with community partners, SS/HS grantees have decreased violent behavior among students and promoted safe, nonviolent environments in which students are most likely to succeed. 

 

This Snapshot explores how 11 SS/HS grantees implemented violence prevention approaches and evidence-based interventions (EBIs) that were appropriate for their schools’ unique violence-related problems and that built on the culture and strengths of their community. These successes, which challenge and reshape norms about youth violence and engage youth as partners in prevention, can serve as models for other school districts and communities.