Project P.A.V.E. (Prevention, Anti-Violence, Empowerment)

Project P.A.V.E Proposal Abstract 

Student Assistance Services Corporation (SAS), a community based nonprofit bullying prevention, mental health treatment, and substance use prevention agency proposes to partner with the Yonkers Public Schools and My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) to implement Project P.A.V.E. (Prevention, Anti-Violence, Empowerment) by combining evidence-based strategies to prevent and reduce youth violence in the City of Yonkers, NY. MBK, the sub recipient, addresses persistent opportunity gaps impacting boys and young men of color, and will provide job readiness coaching, mentorship, and internships for male students of color participating in the project's selective and indicated strategies.  

SAS will employ a Community Coordinator and Mental Health Counselors or Social Workers (prevention specialists) to provide tiered program activities at 10 high needs schools and participate in regularly held existing community coalition and network meetings of youth serving agencies.  These agencies and key stakeholders provide a multi-disciplinary service network to reach diverse youth and provide a seamless continuum of inclusive project activities.  

The Universal program prevention activities will target school climate change and include classroom meetings to reinforce regular awareness messaging for students and adults on risk factors for bullying and violence, options if they are aware of students who are targets, perpetrators, or bystanders, and training for school staff, community organizations, law enforcement personnel, and families. Selective activities include assessment and trauma informed counseling for students who have been the target or bystander of bullying or other violence, and consultation for the adults in their lives. Indicated activities will include assessment, trauma informed counseling, and when necessary, referral for mental health and/or substance use treatment for students who have bullied, threatened, or been violent with other students. Approximately 7,000 high school students will benefit from this combination of activities many of which draw from the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program and Restorative Justice/Reconciliation Practices.

Through each school's SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Clubs, and coalition participation, students will plan and implement school and community anti-violence projects including creating school and community wide violence prevention messaging campaigns using their own voices.

 Based on well-established studies, it is anticipated that outcome data will document a 15% decrease in the number of bullying and violent incidents among students and an 8% decrease in the number of students who bully, threaten, or are violent toward others. Process data will document program activities and be regularly shared with staff and stakeholders to adjust project activities as needed.