Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG04534SSIX

THE USE OF FUNDS ARE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING SCHOOL SECURITY AND PROMOTING A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THROUGH FOUR OBJECTIVES: INCREASE STUDENT ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND HELP COUNSELORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ATTEND TO STUDENTS IN NEED IN REAL TIME. PROVIDE STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND THE COMMUNITY WITH THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN INCREASING THE LEVEL OF SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS BY INSTALLING AN ANONYMOUS REPORTING SYSTEM (ARS). INCREASE STAFF, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENTS ABILITY TO SECURE OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN TIMES OF CRISES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A CONCERN REGARDING THE USE OF FIREARMS THROUGH THE INSTALLATION OF WIRELESS AND HARDWIRED ACCESS CONTROLS THAT ARE ID CARD DRIVEN AND CAN BE CONTROLLED REMOTELY. UPDATE THE NEWLY ACQUIRED LYONS COMMUNITY CENTER WITH THE SAME ACCESS CONTROLS AS THE OTHER THREE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND PROVIDE THE FACILITY WITH VIDEO SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO BOTH LCSD AND THE WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE. THESE FOUR OBJECTIVES WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE INCREASED SECURITY BY ENABLING STAFF, ADMINISTRATION, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MONITOR AND SECURE OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES QUICKLY AND IN REAL-TIME, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THE ADDED BENEFIT TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO SPEAK OUT WHEN THEY OBSERVE PEERS IN CRISES AND PARTICIPATE IN HELPING THEIR PEERS RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. INSTALLING TECHNOLOGY IN OUR FACILITIES AND MAKING ARS AVAILABLE WILL NOT WORK ALONE TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF OUR PROPOSAL. IT WILL NEED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMMING. WITH OTHER FUNDING, OUR PLAN IS TO DELIVER TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TO ALL OF OUR 10TH GRADE STUDENTS, AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TO ALL ADULT STAFF. THESE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS ENABLE BOTH YOUTH AND STAFF TO IDENTIFY MH CONCERNS AMONGST STUDENTS AND DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO HELP CONNECT THEM TO SERVICES.DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROJECT, WE WILL CONTINUE TRAINING OUR STAFF ON IMPLEMENTING CLASSROOM PRACTICES THAT INCLUDE RESTORATIVE CIRCLES AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND THEREBY AVOID PUNITIVE METHODS. WE WILL ACTIVELY USE OUR SRO AND PRE-TRIAL SERVICES TO AVOID SCHOOL BEHAVIOR FROM BECOMING ENTANGLED IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM