Antioch unified school district is located in the SAN francisco BAY area in central california and serves 15,652 students at 25 schools

The Antioch Unified School District in Antioch, California received a $999,990 project grant award from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance under the STOP School Violence program (CFDA 16.839) to deliver evidence-based violence prevention and mental health training services from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2025. Specifically, the district will expand mental health awareness training to 12 schools, training at least 80% of teachers and staff at each location. Four clinicians will be hired to lead the training and provide services at schools with the greatest need. Additionally, the district will train at least 240 staff members on a trauma-informed approach and expand mindfulness training to two additional sites per year. The award will also support enhancing the district's restorative practice and wellness room programs at the 12 target schools to promote conflict resolution and prevent further violence.

Antioch's student population reflects the diverse community IT serves: hispanic (34%), white (29%), black (21%), asian (11%), two or more races (5%), and (1%) hawaiian and other pacific islander. 18.8% of the students' families have incomes below the poverty level. Antioch is not immune from school violence. In 2022 there were 132 cases of assault/battery, 176 - defiance, and 950 - fighting. The need is clear to expand efforts so potential incidences can be identified, prevented, or stopped. The project goal is to prevent and reduce school violence using evidence-based solutions for violence prevention through training at district schools for staff and students. This initiative will be led by the district director of student support services with activities to achieve the objectives. Objective 1: mental health awareness services and training will expand to include 12 schools with at least 80% of teachers and staff at each school completing training and increasing mental health awareness to prevent school violence. Strategy: four clinicians will be hired in year one and assigned to one of 12 schools where the need is the greatest. The clinicians will be licensed and have expertise to lead project training. All training activities will be documented and data collected for review and reporting. Objective 2: at least 240 staff members (20/target school) will increase understanding and knowledge of a trauma-informed approach to mitigate school violence. Strategy: the project will use the evidence-based program, sset (students exposed to trauma) with staff and teachers trained first to facilitate student sset training. Objective 3: expand mindfulness training and implementation at two additional sites per year and increase mindfulness practices. Strategy: training will focus on this trauma-informed program for teachers to apply methods in the classrooms to mitigate school violence. Objective 4: the district will enhance its restorative practice and conference training and wellness rooms program for the 12 target schools. Strategy: this program promotes conflict resolution between both parties and is a means to prevent further conflict. Activities will be documented and BJA performance measures will be addressed to reflect outcomes. The project director will lead data collection and analysis and complete formative and final (summative) project reports. Sustainability plans will be implemented so that antioch USD will have the necessary resources to continue this essential initiative.