This W.O.R.K.S. INC. Is the fiscal agent and will partner with bibb county school district (bcsd) to implement stop school violence in bibb county school district (stop bcsd)

This $999,685 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance (CFDA 16.839 - STOP School Violence Program) supports the implementation of comprehensive school safety initiatives in the Bibb County School District (BCSD) in Georgia. The fiscal agent, This W.o.r.k.s Inc., a minority-owned non-profit organization, will partner with BCSD to deliver the STOP BCSD project. Key products and services to be provided include:

• Schoolwide training and coaching in evidence-based Restorative Practices and Mental Health First Aid for school personnel, with select staff receiving advanced training to become trainers in these programs.
• On-site mental health counseling services for students through project partner Fortified Hope.
• Anti-violence education for students through promotional campaigns, service-learning projects, and participation in restorative circles, conferencing, and peer mediation.
• Tracking of outcomes to measure decreases in out-of-school suspensions, negative student perceptions of school safety, and chronic absenteeism.

The award period is from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027, targeting 8 BCSD elementary schools serving a predominantly African American student population in a high-crime area.

The bibb county school district (bcsd) stop project serves bibb county, georgia. Participating are eight bcsd elementary schools (5,122 students in in pre-kindergarten to grade five), with 86.2% of students being african american. In macon-bibb county, the violent crime rate is nearly four times that of georgia and the united states, with 97% of all communities considered safer than macon. In a survey of bcsd elementary students, 39% reported being physically assaulted (e.g., HIT or kicked) at school and 10% never feel safe at school. Of all bcsd disciplinary incidents, 69% are classified harm to person. The deliverables include schoolwide training and coaching in restorative practices and mental health first aid, which are both evidence-based programs for improving school climate. By project end, select school personnel will have received advanced training to be trainers in in restorative practices and mental health first aid. In addition to the training and coaching, stop bcsd offers opportunities for mental health counseling from project partner fortified hope. Stop bcsd also provides students with antiviolence education through promotional campaigns, service-learning projects, and participating in restorative circles, conferencing, and peer mediation. To strengthen project continuous improvement planning and sustainability, bcsd stop will track outcomes in decreasing out of school suspensions, students' negative perceptions of school safety, and chronic absenteeism.