The STOP School Violence Grant Program is designed to improve K-12 school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence and ensure a positive school climate.
Montgomery County HHS has designed the program to:
- Educate students with the skills they need to prevent violence/bullying,
- Equip teachers with tools to effectively and efficiently manage the classroom dynamic in order to prevent violence and youth bullying,
- Provide opportunities for partner school districts to further enhance their overall school safety strategy through the integration of data, and
- Train teachers to foster a positive school community through professional development.
“The Office of Drug and Alcohol is fortunate to have such strong partnerships with Montgomery County School Districts. These relationships have propelled forward a number of innovative projects that will only benefit the larger community,” stated Linda Moore-Singleton, Administrator for the Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that preventing school violence requires addressing the factors that put people at risk for or protect them from violence. Research shows that prevention efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, community members, and even students can reduce violence and improve the school environment.
Pam Howard, Administrator for the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Early Intervention further adds, “Now is the time, more than ever, to invest resources in supporting school-aged youth and making every effort to promote safe, trauma-informed spaces for their growth. HHS is pleased to be able to offer districts opportunities to expand their prevention efforts.”
The 2021 BJA STOP Violence Program grant is a three-year grant for approximately one million dollars. Montgomery County received its first BJA STOP School Violence Program grant in 2018, with the resources allocated to addressing school violence as a preventable public health issue. Eight school districts who applied to participate in the 2018 BJA STOP Violence Program grant will continue to access BJA grant funded activities. The grant team is in the initial planning phases and expect all grant funded activities to begin in the 2022-23 school year.
About the Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol
The
Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol is committed to the prevention and treatment of substance abuse problems. Services are delivered in partnership with qualified providers and are guided by a philosophy that embraces hope, respect, and support for recovery.
The Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol provides a wide range of drug and alcohol services to county residents in the areas of Prevention, Intervention, Treatment, and Recovery Support.
Each year approximately 6,000 county residents receive drug and alcohol awareness counseling (prevention).In addition, 3,500 residents receive short-term counseling (intervention), and 1,500 residents receive ongoing outpatient and inpatient care (treatment), with the primary focus being on attaining and maintaining a drug and alcohol-free life.
About the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health
A variety of services are available to individuals who have been determined eligible through assessment and evaluation. This includes:
This project is supported by Grant Award No. 15PBJA-21-GG-04624-STOP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.