Objective: By the session's conclusion, participants will be able to describe the process, results, and implications of a statewide assessment of school violence prevention programs. At state and local levels there is widespread concern for youth violence. This has led to the implementation of a multitude and variety of school violence prevention programs. These well-intentioned efforts to reduce violence, unfortunately, are often neither documented nor evaluated. This makes it difficult for public health to effectively respond to the problem. To reverse this trend and improve school programs, the state Violence Prevention Program, with support from Healthy Schools! Healthy Kids!, a joint initiative of the state Departments of Health and Education, conducted a statewide assessment of school violence prevention programs in 2001. Phase one of the assessment determined, via a mail survey: 1) which schools had violence prevention programs, 2) which violence areas (e.g. anger management) schools addressed most, 3) at what grade levels students were provided prevention information, 4) which school districts had the greatest variety of programs, and 5) who taught prevention. Phase two of the assessment entailed face-to-face and telephone interviews of a sample of school personnel (e.g. health teachers) and policy-makers (e.g. superintendents, principals, etc.). These interviews examined violence prevention programs more in-depth and looked at the implications of phase one results. The Department, together with policy makers and other interested groups, will utilize results from phases one and two to develop a state plan for school-based violence prevention. See www.health.state.ri.us/violenceprevention/vppplan.htm
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Violence Prevention, School Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.