October Hot Topic: Preventing School Violence

School violence continues to be a troubling situation in our schools and communities. The CYFERnet School Age editors have compiled these resources, which include prevention strategies, research-based overviews, and other information to help communities connect with youth. CYFERnet supports communities in raising engaged and positive children and youth.

Best Practices of Youth Violence Prevention: A Sourcebook for Community Action
Strategies to Prevent Youth Violence, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Fostering School Connectedness
Research facts and findings from ACT for Youth, a collaboration of Cornell University, the University of Rochester, and the New York State Center for School Safety.

Making the Case: A Fact Sheet on Children and Youth in Out-of-School Time
The National Institute on Out-of-School Time at Wellesley College looks at the benefits of afterschool program participation, the continued need for afterschool opportunities, the out-of-school time workforce, and surrounding issues.

Practical Information on Crisis Planning: A Guide for Schools and Communities
A user-friendly, 132-page guide from the U.S. Department of Education.

School Violence Fact Sheet
A comprehensive overview and helpful links from the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center.

School Violence Prevention and Intervention
The Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice provides a guide to safe schools, steps for safeguarding our children, a helpful resource list, and more.

Secret Service Safe School Initiative
At the completion of the Safe School Initiative, the Secret Service and Department of Education published two reports that detail the study findings and outline a process for threat assessment in schools.

Strengthening Family Involvement in Millville Regional Safe Schools/Healthy Students Collaborative
Complete overview of the National 4-H Program of Distinction/4-H Families Count: Family Strengthening Award-winner.

Toward Safe and Orderly Schools
The National Study of Delinquency Prevention in Schools, from the U.S. Department of Justice.
 
Virginia Best Practices in School-Based Youth Violence Prevention
High-quality youth violence prevention programs for your community, from the Center for Injury and Violence Prevention, Virginia Department of Health, and other partners.

Warning Signs of Youth Violence
The American Psychological Association offers an overview of the reasons for youth violence, violence warning signs, how to deal with anger, and more.

White House Conference on School Safety
This White House Web site provides resources and after-action items, including a summary of the 2006 conference, the “Practical Information on Crisis Planning” brochure, a school safety Webcast, and more.

For Other Hot Topics, check here.