What's New for Schools - January 2010

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Vol.IV, No. 1, January 2010

Whats New For SchoolsA M C

In the wake of several recenthighly-publicized storiesabout violence amongschool-aged children, anew report shows thatschool districts participating

in the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiativesubstantially improved

the safety of their students.

According to the report by the Substance Abuseand Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA), over a three-year period, schooldistricts participating in the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant program reportedfewer students involved in violent incidents,decreased levels of experienced and witnessedviolence, and improvements in overallschool safety and violence prevention. Keyndings from the Safe Schools/HealthyStudents National Evaluation include: A 15 percent decrease in the number of

students involved in violent incidentsduring the grant period (from 17,800in year 1 to 15,163 in year 3).

A 12 percent decrease in the number

of students reporting that they hadexperienced or witnessed violence fromyear 1 of the grant period to year 3.

Most sta at grantee schools reportedthat the Initiative had made their schoolssafer. By year 3 of the grant, 84 percentsaid the Initiative had improved schoolsafety, 77 percent said it had reducedviolence on campus, and 75 percent said ithad reduced violence in the community.

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students programsupports the implementation and enhancementof integrated, comprehensive community-wideplans that create safe and drug-free schoolsand promote healthy childhood development.

Under the initiative, school districts, inpartnership with local public mental-health agencies, law-enforcement andjuvenile justice entities, must implementa comprehensive, community-wide planthat focuses on the following elements: Safe school environments and

violence prevention activities Alcohol, tobacco and other

drug prevention activities Student behavioral, social and

emotional supports Mental health services Early childhood social and

emotional learning programs.

Since 1999, the U.S. Department of Healthand Human Services, the U.S. Departmentof Education, and the U.S. Department ofJustice have implemented the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, which has

provided more than $2.1 billion to localeducational, mental health, law enforcementand juvenile justice partnerships.

For more information on the Safe Schools/Healthy Students visit: hp://www.sshs.samhsa.gov/apply/default.aspx

New Report Shows that the Safe Schools/

Healthy Students Initiative Can Reduce

Violence and Promote Safer Schools


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NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. is a non-prot, community-based health organization serving

Middlesex County. Our mission is to promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities of

Middlesex County through the reduction or elimination of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use problems.

NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc.152 Tices Lane

East Brunswick, NJ 08816Phone: 732-254-3344

www.ncadd-middlesex.org

The arts provide a safe outlet for all youth,families, and communities. This is regardlessof their culture and dierences to expressideas, feelings, and opinions about cominginto being as part of society, dealing withhardships, happiness, stress, and illnessthrough creative expression. No other activityallows us that voice.

The arts allow us individually, collectively and

culturally to say things we might never get tosay. This is why NCADD currently oersActsof Prevention.

Acts of Prevention is a unique and excitingprogram developed in response to thechanging needs of our youth. It is basedupon a collaborative relationship betweenthe arts and prevention. NCADD is able tooer this educational, fun and empoweringprogramming to schools and communities.

NCADDsActs of Prevention Initiativeprovides the community with an alternativeto traditional prevention activities. The manycomponents of programming can assist youthby developing resiliency and increasingemotional, behavioral, cognitive and culturalcompetencies.

This programming will provide options,

challenges, and an eective means forpromoting growth and change.Acts of

Prevention performances are followed by aquestion and answer period moderated by atrained NCADD sta member. NCADD alsoworks closely with professional school stato ensure that support services are in placeonce the program is completed. The entiretroupe of young adulkts is trained to sendpowerful and responsible messages with astrong knowledge of the issues that they arepresenting.

For more information on theActs of Preventionprograms available to your school pleasecontact us 732-254-3344 or via email [email protected].

Funding for theActs of Prevention programwas made possible through an initial grantfrom the PNC Foundation.

NCADDsActs of Prevention. Making a

difference in the community


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What Students ReallyThink of Their

Education and Teachers

When 414,000 grade sixth through twelhstudents speak, educators should listen.

Adults ideas about students aitudes towardtheir educational experience oen are basedon speculation and assumptions. The resultis a disconnect between what educators thinkstudents need and how to meet those needsand what students consider important.

That is why the results of theMy Voice

Aspiration Survey -- the largest study to dateof student perceptions from grades 6 to 12 ofthe current academic environment -- are socritical.

The nal report is based on responsesfrom 414,000 students within 569 schoolsin 32 states from various socioeconomicbackgrounds.

What the report indicates in part is that manystudents enjoy school and want to succeed,they also want their education to be morerelevant to their everyday lives and teachers toshow more interest in them as individuals.

Among the positive ndings: 75 percent of students reported enjoying

learning new things, and that samepercentage felt that what they learn willbenet them in the future.

84 percent of students agree that geinggood grades is important, and 69 percentfeel testing is an important part of theireducation.

65 percent of students said they have ateacher who is a positive role model.

49 percent of students taking the surveyenjoy being at school, 54 percent enjoy

their classes and 64 percent believelearning can be fun.

On the other hand: Only 38 percent of students felt their

classes help them understand what ishappening in their everyday lives.

47 percent felt school is boring and only31 percent felt teachers make school anexciting place to learn.

Just 48 percent felt teachers care about

them as individuals and even fewer -- 45percent -- felt teachers cared if they wereabsent from school.

Only 30 percent of students respect theirfellow students.

The survey was conducted between fall 2006and spring 2008 by the educational assessmentgroup of Pearson and the Quaglia Institute forStudent Aspirations (QISA) an educational

research organization.

The above story provides an interestinginsight into what students think. Wed like toknow what you think. Please email us yourcomments to [email protected] andwell publish them in an upcoming issue ofWhats New For Schools.

This article was based in part on informationavailable at www.educationworld.com.


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NCADD Programmatic News

Starting with this issue of Whats New for Schools we hopeto bring you news and information on the various programsNCADD delivers in County communities and schools. Formore information about NCADDs programs please contact

Alexandra Lopez, Deputy Director, at 732-254-3344.

RutgeRs AlliAncefoR sustAinAble

Risk Reduction (RAsRR)NCADD, in partnership with the RutgersUniversity Center for Alcohol Studies and thePrinceton Leadership Academy, recently beganwork on a strategic prevention framework stateincentive grant. The goal of the grant is to reducedangerous drinking practices within the Rutgersstudent population. Recent eorts have focused

on data collection for a needs assessment andbuilding capacity within the coalition in order toenable RASRR to proceed to the planning phaseof the framework. In addition to faculty, sta,and student volunteers from the university, manycommunity members from New Brunswick,Piscataway and Highland Park have becomeinvolved with the Community Advisory Panelthe coalition which will be the driving forcebehind the planning and implementation offuture initiatives and programs. The nalizedplan is expected to be released early in 2010.

the stRengthening fAmilies

PRogRAmhAsdoneitAgAin!!!The last rotation of Strengthening Families in SouthBrunswick was a great success! Seven familiesparticipated and were able to strengthen the bondwithin their individual family units. Families hada great time together and walked away with keyinformation and tools to use themeselves or sharewith others. The Family Meetings were a bighit and past participating families indicate they

continue to use the tools they learned as well!Strengthening Families is one of the most researchedprevention programs in the nation and according toa cost-benet analysis (prepared by SAMHSA andCSAP,) it returns $15.3 for every dollar spent on theprogram. Another rotation will be starting shortlyat the Cambridge School in South Brunswick. Theprogram is geared for parents and youth ages 10-14. Interested in bringing Strengthening Families toyourschool? Please contact Christina Rak-Samson

@732-254-3344 ext. 32

Board of Trustees

Past PresidentBrian T. Rose

MembersSharon Campbell

Rakesh Ganta

Steven S. Polinsky

George Rusuloj

Marjorie Talbot

PresidentKatherine Fallon

TreasurerBill DeJianne

Vice PresidentSusan Neshin, M.D.

SecretarySandra Martin

StaSteven G. Liga, MSW, LSW, LCADC, CPS, CCS

CEO & Executive Director

Alexandra Lopez,

MA, LCADC, SAC, CPS, DRCCDeputy Director

Ezra Helfand, BAPublic Information Coordinator

Jacqueline Jackson, MBAFinancial Manager

East Brunswick OceLissette M. Bacharde

Administrative Assistant

Al-Karim Campbell, BAPreventionist I

Luis Carrero, BSWPreventionist I

Padma Sonti Desai, MAPreventionist I

Dara Jarosz, MA, SACClinician I

Christina Rak-Samson, BAPreventionist I

Linda Surks, BS, CPSPreventionist II

Laura Tittel, BAPreventionist I

Jason Victor, BA, CPSPreventionist II

Heather Ward, MSW, LSW

Preventionist I

Carteret OceLauren Balkan, MSW, LCSW

Supervisor

Christine Hughes, MSW, LSWPreventionist I

Anna Kirzner MSW, LSWClinician II

Lindsay Rich, MSW, LSWClinician II

Dana ToskAdministrative Assistant


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NOTE: These are two different classes


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Training @ NCADD

Registration FormTo register, complete the registration form and fax to 732-254-4224

or mail with your check to NCADD-Training.152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.

Name:_____________________________________________________________________________

Aliation:_________________________________________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________________________________________

City:_________________________________________State: ____________ Zip:_______________________

Phone #: __________________ Fax:___________________ Email:___________________________________

Please register me for the following courses:

Course # and Date _________________ Course # and Date _________________ Course # and Date ________________

Check or money order payable to: NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc., 152 Tices Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816

Or pay by credit card: VISAMasterCardAmericanExpressDiscover

Account # ______________________________ Exp. Date __________ CCV # ________________

Name on Card _____________________________________________

Cardholders Billing Address: ___________________________________

City ____________________________ State _______________ Zip ____________

Signature _________________________________________________

Amount to be charged: $ _____

I am a member of the Coalition for Healthy Communities (You have free access to CPS, CADC andRECERT classes)

Scholarship Opportunities:

Individuals interested in receiving a CPS scholarship must complete an application (found at hp://www.njpn.org/cpsscholarships/)and submit it prior to taking a class. Please note that the approval process will likely take a few weeks due to the anticipated demand for

scholarships and DASs involvement in selecting scholarship recipients.

NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. is an approved provider for the Addictions Professionals Certication Board of New Jersey (APCBNJ) and the New Jersey

Department of Education/Professional Development (Provider #1417).

Documents

What's New for Schools - January 2010