A Project of CVES

SS/HS partners begin to offer programs/services to students

“The Communities of One Safe Schools/Healthy Students project will begin delivering programs to students in March”, says Wanda McQueen, the project’s administrator. Five school districts including: AuSable Valley, Moriah, Northern Adirondack, Saranac, and Ticonderoga, are among the 18 participating partners. The Clinton and Essex Counties Sheriff’s Offices, Probation Departments, and Mental Health Agencies, along with Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network, Champlain Valley Family Center, Behavior Health Services North, Substance Abuse Prevention Team, Child Care Coordinating Council, and SUNY Research Foundation join them.

Champlain Valley Educational Services received a $4.3 million grant to implement this federal initiative over the next four years to make schools safer and students healthier. This unique, interagency collaboration is one of the largest in the North Country, bringing together local education, law enforcement and probation, early childhood, and mental health partners to create sustainable system change that will positively impact students, families, and communities on 5 core elements: school violence, drug prevention, social and emotional support, mental health services, and early childhood learning.

Programs and services supported by Safe Schools/Healthy Students allow participating schools to be proactive in addressing issues surrounding school violence, substance abuse, and mental health. Local law enforcement and Champlain Valley Educational Services will work with districts to assess and improve safety and crisis intervention plans to maximize effectiveness. Other partners will assist districts in implementing an array of character education and drug prevention programs targeting elementary students. Early childhood specialists will operate a family resource center while mental health partners will provide after school activities and on-site clinics. School districts will focus on promoting positive learning environments.

“We have a unique opportunity to build a collaborative interagency relationship that will allow a forum to develop and share our best practices and eliminate overlap of services to best maximize our professional resources within our Communities of One service area. Together, we can greatly reduce the risk of school violence and the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs while promoting the social and emotional health of our students, their families and our communities,” shares McQueen.

For more information, please contact:
Wanda McQueen - Project Administrator
(518) 561-0100 x 357

School Community Coordinator
(518) 561-0100 x373