WCPSS--Going for the Goal:

Program Elements

What is being done to make schools safer and students healthier

Prevention Programs

Incorporate violence and drug/alcohol use prevention programs in School curriculums: 3-C Program, Second Step Program, Get Real About Violence and HS Safety Program. All are nationally validated approaches.

After School Programs

Increase capacity by adding positions through mini grants. Train and teach nationally validated violence prevention curriculum to students in after-school supervised situations.

Alternate Learning Program

NovaNet Learning Labs - expand use of self-paced, computerized learning opportunities. Students will be able to 'catch up' when they have fallen behind in subject areas. Lab hours are flexible.

Support Programs for Students and Families

FAST-Families and Schools Together: Evening program for families of students aged 4-9. Involves 8 weekly sessions and monthly follow-up for two years by mental health and substance abuse staff.

CAT-Community Assessment Teams: Assessment, planning and resource identification for children with complex emotional and behavioral problems. Assessment, planning and services for children and families with drug abuse issues.

Parents as Teachers program: Helping parents of newborns learn appropriate developmental skills.

CIS Mentors: 200-300 additional mentors.

Youth Involvement

Teen Court - Expansion of current program. Development of additional diversionary options for schools and courts.

SAVE Club - Incorporate clubs in all middle and high schools in Wake County. Funding for advisors and high school programs. Develop countywide advisory council.

Teen Summit - Yearly conference on Safe Schools and violence prevention

School Security

Elementary schools - Intellikey systems for outside doors. Cameras for school entrances.

Middle Schools - Surveillance cameras in several key areas.

Crisis Hotline - Coordinated with Save-A-Friend and Holly Hill/Charter.

County Wide Collaboration

Sharing of data from IEP and discipline decisions in order for individual schools to make improved decisions. Evaluations of all programs by grant-funded educator, contracted services with local universities, and reviewed by the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council.

Our Goals

Over the next three years we will:

• Reduce incidence of school crime and violence,
• Reduce number of Out-of-school suspensions,
• Increase the percentage of high school students who think their school is safe,
• Decrease the incidence of juvenile drug arrests,
• Decrease the incidence of juvenile violent crime arrests, and
• Decrease the incidence of overall juvenile arrests.