The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Interdepartmental Initiative (SS/HS) is an unprecedented collaboration between the Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services. The purpose is to enhance mental health and prevent violence-related outcomes for students and families through a comprehensive, integrated strategy with 6 elements: early childhood preventive and treatment interventions; alcohol, drug abuse and violence prevention and early intervention; school-based referral, preventive, and treatment mental health services; safe school policies, educational reform, and a safe school environment. SS/HS is implemented through signed partnerships between local educational, mental health, and law enforcement authorities. Key features of SS/HS include emphasis on evidence-based preventive and treatment interventions within a comprehensive, integrated strategy, and a national evaluation. The presentation will give an overview of the SS/HS Initiative and national evaluation, discuss the primary criteria for evidence-based interventions, and highlight selected SS/HS sites.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. Recognize four principal criteria of evidence-based preventive and treatment interventions; 2. Discuss the six major elements of the SS/HS comprehensive, integrated strategy; 3. Identify five potential positive outcomes of an integrated community strategy to enhance student mental health and prevent violence
Keywords: Violence Prevention, Child and Adolescent Mental 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.