Session: The Comprehensive School Safety Initiative: Nij’s Renewed Commitment to Youth Violence Prevention Research (Society for Prevention Research 23rd Annual Meeting)

The recent events of school violence, bullying, and related concerns regarding school safety and school climate led a number of federal agencies to increase their focus on school-based violence prevention. One such effort is the Department of Justice Appropriations Act of 2014, which provided funds for a broad, research-focused initiative aimed at increasing the safety of schools nationwide. As a part of this initiative, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) dedicated 6.1 million dollars in new funding to support a set of researcher-initiated grants focused on increasing school safety in the United States. This presentation features three research projects funded by NIJ under this new initiative. The broader goal of this line of work is to help NIJ develop a strategy and Comprehensive School Safety Model for communities to use to enhance their local school safety. Together, these projects examine an array of factors that contribute to school safety and prevent youth violence.

Specifically, the first talk focuses on an effort in Maryland middle schools which will receive training in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and the use of school-climate data to inform the selection and implementation of other violence prevention programs. Tested using a randomized controlled trial design in 40 schools, this project will contribute to the growing evidence base for PBIS as an effective approach for improving school climate and reducing rates of violence and aggression in schools. The second presentation focuses on the evaluation of a state-mandated threat assessment model in Virginia. This innovative study aims to determine the impact of the state mandate, identify key elements of high fidelity implementation of threat assessment, and test, using a randomized controlled trial design, the impact of providing technical assistance in threat assessment to schools across Virginia. The third presentation focuses on the role of school police in the violence prevention effort. Specifically this study will compare data from 200 schools in two states, half of whom have hired school resource officers (SROs) in the past year, to understand the effect of SROs on disciplinary practices and school safety. Findings from this study also will help define the role of and the training requirements for SROs in schools. A state partner employed by the Maryland State Department of Education will serve as a discussant, providing a unique perspective on the importance of researcher/partnership approaches to school-based violence prevention.