Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (SDFSC)

For VADIR information, please go to:
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/sss/SDFSCA/uvir/home_uvir_vadir.htm

Laws, Rules and Regulations     Guidance Materials     Application Materials
    Various Forms and Informational Guides    Science-Based Program Information
Bullying Resources    Positive School Environments Resources Additional Resources

Laws, Rules and Regulations

No Child Left Behind/Title IV-21st Century Schools - Part A Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities
Legislation - Text of the law, including SDFSCA, 21st CCLC and 'Pro-Children Act of 2001 (Environmental Tobacco Smoke)

SDFSCA Guidance Materials

Safe and Drug-Free School and Communities Act: Guidance for State and Local Implementation of Programs - This guidance package was developed after consultation with State and local program officials around the country. In addition to highlighting important provisions and providing interpretations concerning some key provisions, it also contains questions and answers that respond directly to questions raised by State and local officials since the enactment of the reauthorized ESEA. These questions and answers appear at the conclusion of each major section of the guidance.

Safe and Drug-Free and Communities Act: Guidance for State and Local Implementation of Programs - Updated materials

Helpful Guidance - Consultation/Collaboration Requirements In Consolidated Application

Title IV: Safe and Drug-Free Schools - a powerpoint presentation with helpful information on the Consolidated Application

Power Point presentation: Presented by Greg Bayduss, NYS Education Department Coodinator for Safe and Drug Free Schools, at the "Reducing Youth Violence in NYS" Conference. Conference was sponsored by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and was held at the Holiday Inn, Albany on February 4-6, 2008.

Focus on Prevention: Practical guide to successful prevention strategies.

Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities, U.S. Department of Education, August 2004 - Although every school's needs and circumstances are different, these checklists provide general guidance that can be adapted as appropriate to each district's or school's circumstances. Taking action now can save lives, prevent injury, and minimize property damage in the moments of a crisis. If you do not have a crisis plan in place, it is time to develop one. If you have one, review, practice, and update your plan.

SDFSCA Application Materials

2008-09 Consolidated Application Update - Final version

A Principles of Effectiveness Rubric - some helpful insights into how your application will be reviewed.

Title IV-A District Feedback Form 2008 - 2009

Waiver for Innovative Activities or Programs - This waiver is required if the program identified to be funded is not an approved Scientifically Based Research program.

Various SDFSCA Forms and Informational Guides

SDFSCA Field Visit and Self Assessment Form

SDFSCA Phone Monitoring Form

SDFSCA Application Power Point

SDFSCA Program Review Plan (Monitoring)

SDFSCA Monitoring Report

SDFSCA Review Form for Budgets

Typology of Programs Funded Under Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities

Science-Based Program Information (Resources to help identify science-based programs for SDFSCA programs)

Approved Science-Based SDFSCA Programs - a list

Where to Find Evidence-Based Interventions - links to additional websites

Checklist for evaluating whether an intervention is backed by rigorous evidence - a useful tool

Blueprints Model Programs - Blueprints for Violence Prevention has identified 11 prevention and intervention programs that meet a strict scientific standard of program effectiveness.

SAMHSA - National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices

SAMHSA - Evidence-Based Programs and Practices - To help in the prevention and/or treatment of mental and substance use disorders

SAMHSA - Model Prevention Programs Supporting Academic Achievement - a chart describing each model program that has proven academic achievement outcomes; provides information about specific academic achievement outcomes and other outcomes related to school performance.

From the Middle School Coordinators (USDOE): More Connections for Model Programs

Help Us Raise Awareness of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Promotional Materials Now Available

Methamphetamine Awareness: Recent changes in State Law now require school personnel who are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or maltreatment incidents, and who as part of their usual responsibility visit children’s homes, to report any signs of an unlawful methamphetamine laboratory. The law further requires that schools or organizations that employ mandated reporters must provide these employees with information that will help them identify these unlawful laboratories.

SAMHSA'S SCIENCE-BASED SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PLANNING SYSTEM - NOW AVAILABLE TO STATES - SAMHSA announced the availability of Communities That Care (CTC) -- a science-based substance abuse prevention planning system for use by States and communities to help prevent drug and alcohol abuse before it starts. CTC models a community-wide approach to prevention that also enables communities to select the right substance use prevention program for their needs in preventing substance abuse problems. CTC helps communities monitor and improve overall program quality, and ultimately prevention practice. For complete information, please visit: <http://preventionplatform.samhsa.gov/>

Are you looking for research based strategies to use in your program? Sharing Success provides information through newsletters, the Educational Programs That Work catalog, the Website, conferences, flyers and the Technical Assistance Center to assist schools, adult education sites, agencies and community based organizations to provide quality programs to meet the needs of their learners. Access to hundreds of Sharing Success programs and staff development options increases the capacity of local schools and programs to meet their own identified needs.

Helping America’s Youth is a nationwide effort, initiated by President George W. Bush and led by First Lady Laura Bush, to benefit children and teenagers by encouraging action in three key areas: family, school, and community. The Community Guide to Helping America’s Youth helps communities build partnerships, assess their needs and resources, and select from program designs that could be replicated in their community. It walks community groups through the steps necessary for building strong supports for youth.

SAMHSA Launches Searchable Database of Evidence-Based Practices in Prevention and Treatment of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. The new National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). The NREPP (www.nrepp.samhsa.gov) is a searchable database with up-to-date, reliable information on the scientific basis and practicality of interventions. Users, such as community organizations and state and local officials, can perform custom searches to identify specific interventions based upon desired outcomes, target populations and service settings. Key features of the new NREPP system include:

• Custom searches based upon desired outcomes, target populations and service settings;

• Details on each intervention including: a brief descriptive summary, the types of outcomes achieved, the costs of implementing the intervention, and the complete contact information for the intervention developer;

• Two independent expert ratings for each intervention – the first assessing the quality of research supporting specific intervention outcomes, and the second assessing the availability of implementation and training materials to support adoption of the intervention in routine service settings.

Bullying Resources

Toward Safe and Supportive Learning Environments - information on reducing bullying behaviors

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health Resources and Services Administration, and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau created this awesome place for us to go to get the latest scoop on bullying. Without their commitment to reducing and preventing bullying, all this helpful information may not have been so readily available. Visit the website: http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/index.asp
Please encourage your colleagues, association members, and local community leaders to call 1-888-ASK-HRSA to request their copies of the kits. Also note that school system representatives can request copies of kits for each school in their districts.

Safe Schools Coalition: The Safe Schools Coalition offers resources as a starting point for educators, parents/guardians and youth.

Stop Bullying Now! No matter how you have been touched or impacted by bullying, you can make a valuable contribution to changing environments that are conducive to bullying and promoting healthier behaviors for young people. The following are some great examples of ways different groups of people can make such a contribution.

Family Pride Coalition Family Pride is the national non-profit organization committed to securing family equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer parents, guardians and allies. Our work consists of strategically linked initiatives—broad in scope, but simple in vision—love, justice, family, equality. We make change. We share information. We build community. We are visible.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center; advocates at state and local levels for the rights of alternative families.

Positive School Environments Resources

Three programs recognized as effective programs by the U.S. Department of Education and the Substance Abuse and the Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have shown significant improvements in creating a positive school environment which contributes to academic achievement. The programs are:

Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS) - A comprehensive program for promoting emotional and social competencies and reducing aggression and behavior problems in elementary school-aged children while simultaneously enhancing the educational process in the classroom.
This innovative curriculum is designed for use by educators and counselors in a multiyear, universal prevention model. Although primarily focused on the school and classroom settings, information and activities are also included for use with parents or guardians. Find more information about the PATHS program online at:
http://www.channing-bete.com/prevention-programs/paths

Seattle Social Development Project - A universal, multidimensional intervention that decreases juveniles' problem behaviors by working with parents, teachers, and children. It incorporates both social control and social learning theories and intervenes early in children's development to increase pro-social bonds, strengthen attachment and commitment to schools, and decrease delinquency. Learn more about the Seattle Social Development Project at: http://depts.washington.edu/ssdp

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program - A multilevel, multicomponent program designed to reduce and prevent schools' bully problems. School staff are largely responsible for introducing and implementing the program, and their efforts aredirected toward improving peer relations and making the school a safe and pleasant place to be.
The Bullying Prevention Program attempts to restructure the existing school environment to reduce opportunities and rewards for bullying behavior.More information about the Bullying Prevention Program can be found at www.clemson.edu/olweus (Source: The Challenge, vol. 14, Issue 2)

Additional Resources:

A new resource from SAMHSA: SAMHSA Announces Availability of TAP 21, Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announces the availability of the updated Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) 21, Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice. This printing of TAP 21 contains updated competencies that are essential to the effective practice of counseling for substance use disorders. Under each competency, the TAP lists updated knowledge, skills, and attitudes that counselors need to become proficient in that competency. It also includes expanded bibliographies and new sections on cultural competence and Internet resources. TAP 21 was originally developed in 1998, in cooperation with the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network. This update used the same development process as that used for the original version.
Order your FREE copy of TAP 21 online or, contact SAMHSA’s National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI). Ask for publication order number BKD246.
View this publication online in PDF format.
Phone: 800-729-6686 or 240-221-4017; 800-487-4889 (TDD hearing impaired); 877-767-8432 (toll free) Hablamos Español. Web: www.ncadi.samhsa.gov The issue is also available online at: www.kap.samhsa.gov.

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is the lead federal agency for violence prevention. Within NCIPC, the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) focuses on primary prevention or stopping violence before it starts. DVD funds an array of prevention resource centers that serve as comprehensive collection and distribution centers for information, research, and training on violence prevention and intervention. Links to six of these centers along with a short description of each is provided.

Underage Alcohol Use and Prevention: resources from OASAS

National Institute on Drug Abuse has a website that facilitates information sharing and research collaboration among those concerned with drug abuse. http://nnp.drugabuse.gov

Logic model for program planning, implementation and evaluation - Decision Support System