Safe and Drug Free Schools
The Title IV , Part A Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, State and LEA Formula Program was eliminated after the 2009-2010 school year. The funds were redirected to implement competitive grants from the national level. However, in Volusia County Schools we continue to support our bullying initiative and the Too Good for Drugs program. During the 2012-2013 school year, we partnered with the Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Intervention (NOPE) Task Force to offer prevention education to middle and high school students. In 2014-2015 school year, Volusia County Schools partnered with One Voice for Volusia to offer the Know the Law program for secondary students.
Bully-Proofing Your Schools
Bully-Proofing Your School program focuses on creating safe and caring school communities where children do feel connected and the power is in the hands of the caring majority. This caring majority is made up of all members of the school community -- students, teachers, administrators, support staff, parents -- working together to create an environment that feels supportive to everyone. There are four basic concepts that form the basis of the Bully-Proofing Your School program.
1. Systemic, comprehensive program
School-wide commitment to non-tolerance for bullying
Development of school-wide rules and expectations
School-wide commitment to creating a caring community
All systems are involved (administration, teachers, students, support staff, transportation, community liaisons)
2. Main focus on climate change
Designed to create a positive, pro-social school climate
Commitment is to broad cultural change
Program is viewed as a process of gradual change
3. Teaches skills and strategies to avoid victimization
Introduces a common vocabulary to be used system-wide
Skills include how to take a stand for self and others
Emphasizes concept of taking responsibility for each other
Develops skills of problem-solving and community building
4. Emphasis on developing the caring majority
Goal is to shift power away from the bullies to the silent majority members
Focus is on empowering and mobilizing the silent majority to become the caring majority
The caring majority is the foundation of the caring school environment
Bullying and Harassment Manual
There are ten basic elements that a school needs to have in place in order for the Bully-Proofing program to be optimally successful.
- Staff acknowledgment of the problem of bullying and their commitment to the creation of a safe school
- Administrative support for the problem
- School-wide discipline plan in place
- Bully-Proofing Cadre formed to design and guide implementation for the program
- Assessment of current school climate and safety issues
- Training of staff
- Training of students -- classroom curriculum
- Support from the parent community
- Strategies for ongoing development of the caring community principles (1-4 above)
- Evaluation of the program
Too Good for Drugs
Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) is a comprehensive alcohol, tobacco, and other drug-prevention program that promotes positive norms for healthy, drug-free living in kindergarten through fifth grades. TGFD is an in-depth school-based drug prevention/education program designed to teach students that they are "too good" for drugs and equip them with knowledge, protective factors, and developmental assets. Students are provided with proactive support, positive role models, clear boundaries, and high expectations that research has shown to be building blocks for healthy development.
Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Intervention (NOPE)
NOPE is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that was formed in Palm Beach County, Florida in 2004 to combat the illegal use of prescription drugs and narcotics as well as other abuse substances. NOPE does prevention through education. Their research-based, high-impact multimedia presentations are delivered to middle and high school students during a 50 minute block assembly. The students are educated about the harmful effects of alcohol and drug abuse and they are encouraged to call 911 to save a life. NOPE partners with local law enforcement agencies and parents who have lost a loved one to prescriptive drugs in delivering these presentations.
The Prescription Medication Abuse Guide and Toolkit was developed by the Substance Abuse Task Force of Flagler and Volusia County. The guide provides a wealth of information to assist an understanding the epidemic that is aggressively impacting both adults and children in Florida.
Other Resources
Volusia County Schools partnered with One Voice for Volusia in 2014-2015 school year to offer the Know the Law program to secondary students. See letter of Support.