SAMSHA For Student Mental Health Intervention

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students SS/HS initiative is a unique federal grant making program designed to prevent violence and substance abuse among our nation's
youth, schools, and communities. The model is based on the response to a series of deadly school shootings in the late 1990's, such as Columbine and Sandy Hook. Since 1999, the program model has made federal collaboration siwht the Department of Education (ED), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent youth violence and promote the healthy development of youth.  The effort services more than 13 million youth and has offered more than $2 billion in funding and other resources to 365 communities in 49 states across the nation.  You can download a list of SS/HS grantees on the SAMHSA.gov website. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)  has tools and programs that address issues such as mental health for students and school safety. They give you resources for mental health intervention. They also have organizations that help runaway youths, suicide prevention, and post-suicide coping programs.  The SS/HS study was conducted in 2013. Evaluators reported and reviewed the performance of the initiative using census data, public information, as required by the Government Performance Results Act. Evaluators conducted surveys and interviews with grant project directors for their partnership organizations. A five year study found that the safe schools and healthy students initiative reduces school violence and substance abuse use and increased the use of mental health services. The evaluation discovered that fewer students reported that they experienced violence with a 7% decrease since the grant award. Fewer students reported about witnessing violence with a 4% decrease. There was a 263% increase in the number of students who received school-based mental health services and a 519% increase in those who received community based services. The faculty also reported more than 95% experienced improved safety. More than 90% reduced violence on campus. Nearly 90% improved their detection of mental health problems among students. Almost 80% observed the reduction of alcohol and other drug use. Nearly 80% saw a reduction in violence in their community. The program is suppose to strengthen the academic, social, and emotional growth of students.  The program also has a technical assistance center where you can find technical assistance and resources at the National Resource Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention. Educators and superintendents alike can apply the "Safe School framework to their present youth violence prevention program.  SAMHSA also has a KnowBullying Prevention App where the conversation is focused is about child issues related to bullying that can help build their self-esteem and prevent bullying. The program alone is not enough to prevent violence in schools. Schools present programs in place and the Home and School Broad Associations across America need to be responsible in changing schools to a drug-free and safe environment for the youth.  Schools should also build partnerships with community-level mental health organizations partnerships to level behavioral health education.  This will promote supports in changing the infrastructure, system integration, policy changes in education. Comment below if this information was helpful to your present program.  Need help? The National Helpline for SAMSHA is 1-800-662-HELP.