Increased Capacity for Violence Prevention

Family Wellness Outreach of Mississippi, in partnership with Columbus Municipal School District, Lowndes County, Mississippi will implement a school violence prevention project with project activities to reduce the incidents of school violence through improved school safety and climate; and prevent youth violence, delinquency, and victimization in the community by addressing risk factors at the youth, family, school and community levels. Key project activities are: 1) improve school capacity to prevent and intervene early to incidents of violence, 2) enhance and expand partnerships between school systems and community-based organizations to address school violence, 3) expand opportunities for family engagement with school personnel to mutually address risk factors for violence, and 4) improve communication between home and school to enhance protective factors for student success. Deliverables include: provide comprehensive evidence-based education and training for students, school, and law enforcement personnel and parents; implement the Comprehensive Gang Model using Community Mobilization; provide Social-Emotional Learning Skills Training; conduct district-wide Anti-Violence Campaigns; identify a service network of community-based organizations in the community and develop a multidisciplinary team that hosts regular meetings; conduct outreach and provide parent education sessions; engage families in team meetings; help families navigate community resources for identified needs; use the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Framework; conduct system level safety, and provide school and law enforcement training.