The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64215

Mary Grenz Jalloh, MS, MPH¹, Felicia Watson, MBA¹, and Debra Fuchs Nadeau, EdD². (1) New York State Center for School Safety, 175 Rt 32 N., New Paltz, NY 12561, 845 255 8989, mjalloh@mhric.org, (2) New York State Center for School Safety - Satellite Office, 6 Wierk Ave., Liberty, NY 12574

In response to national concerns about violence, New York State enacted Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE), the most comprehensive piece of school safety legislation in the country. A component of this legislation directed the Commissioner of Education to develop and distribute an Interpersonal Violence Prevention Package to all New York State schools. The New York State Center for School Safety was commissioned to create products to meet this requirement. Based on focus group sessions held with youth around the state, two products were developed: Respect, a Social Emotional Learning Approach to Preventing Violence - a collection of resources and strategies for home-school partnerships to address this issue, and Please Stand Up Against Violence, an interactive CD-ROM covering the topics of conflict, relationship violence, hate and harassment, gangs, suicide, weapons, and bullying. This engaging and fast paced product is designed for use by youth in school, community and/or home settings. Scripting and acting for the CD-ROM was by youth in NY state, assisted by the Children's Media Project and Lumina Films (NYC), and Respect was developed in conjuntion with the Center for Social and Emotional Education in NYC. An extensive evaluation of the products is currently underway to determine effectiveness in preventing violence and changing school climate. Early assessments after full implementation of the CD-ROM at pilot sites indicate positive changes in behavioral interactions between adolescents. The full evaluation design will determine whether this change is sustained over time, and its impact on positively influencing the school environment.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this session, participants should:
• Be able to identify concrete strategies and tools for effective change in behaviors leading to youth violence.
• Describe how evaluation can impact program implementation strategies.

Keywords: Violence Prevention, Youth Violence

Related Web page: www.pleasestandup.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.