Comprehensive Plan

Substance Use and Violence Prevention

The comprehensive plan for substance use and violence prevention includes education and skill development at all grade levels. District personnel and community partners deliver this education. Some programs are provided by national entities such as MADD and SAMHSA. A variety of teaching methods are used to provide multiple learning experiences for all types of learners. Classroom lectures, discussions, hands-on activities, role-play, research projects, videos, visual arts, performing arts, special events, and auditorium style presentations are incorporated into the curriculum.

At the primary level, classroom teachers and guidance staff provide education on cooperation, teasing, bullying, communication, self-esteem, and diversity topics. Community partners provide education and skill building activities that complement the basic curriculum. The DARE program presents education on substance abuse prevention, and skill development on refusal strategies to first and third grade students. Battered Women’s Resources Institute provides staff to teach students about teasing and bullying prevention for first, second, and third graders. A parent education night is hosted yearly. Students also participate in special activities that include support groups for ADHD, Self-Esteem, Children of Divorce, and social skills.

The elementary students participate in scheduled health related classes taught by guidance counselors and school nurses. The Gardner Police also present the DARE program to fifth grade students, focusing on self-esteem, substance abuse prevention, and communication and refusal skills. A community Multi-Service Center is currently recruiting high school students to present plays that inform students about substance abuse prevention, coping skills, and relationships. School Nurses provide coordinate with Guidance personnel to present puberty and maturation education for fifth grade students. Second Step curriculum is utilized in all elementary grades. Guidance, nurses, and teachers have organized and begun a SOARING program that teaches social skills, peer interaction, and self-esteem. It is a program that can provide coping skills, refusal skills, and supports to prevent violence and substance use. Classes are 45minutes per day.

At the Middle School, a full-time health educator coordinates with Guidance and Physical Education teachers to present a comprehensive health education program that includes substance abuse prevention, violence prevention, mental health and nutrition education, and communication and coping skills. A Peer Leader program is used to assist with conflict resolution, mediation and community service learning experiences. Local agencies provide lessons on healthy relationships, personal and sexual harassment, and disabilities. The play Remote Control has been presented to middle school students to educate about healthy relationships and to prevent domestic violence. A program for females has been implemented to improve decision-making skills and knowledge about dating relationships.

At the high school level, a part time health educator, physical education teachers, guidance counselors, nursing staff, and family and consumer science teachers provide a basic health curriculum that focuses on violence and substance use prevention, mental health, and health promotion. Health classes provide the three curriculum components recommended by MacLean’s Hospital, including mental health awareness, substance abuse prevention, and stress management. Community partners provide instruction and opportunities for awareness and prevention on multiple health issues. Special events such as Awareness Week, Unity Week, Health Awareness, and monthly health themes are presented throughout the year to emphasize substance use prevention, diversity, cooperation, and decision-making skills. Clubs activities and special events provide opportunities for students to participate in teaching and learning about important teen issues. Active clubs include, but are not limited to the Multicultural Club, Diversity Works, and Police Explorers Club.

The health curriculum, special events, and assistance from community health partners, are reviewed in the Health Advisory Committee that meets quarterly. Community members, parents, teachers, and students are invited to attend and to provide opinions, suggestions, and programs that may enhance our goals of promoting health throughout our school system.

Needs Assessment

The district needs assessment includes data from School Incident Reports for elementary, middle, and high school. The Youth Health Survey from the 2003-2004 school year was utilized in the assessment. The Year End Juvenile Arrest report was also incorporated.

In the spring of 2004, 192 students in the high school were surveyed with the Youth Health Survey. This included students in all senior English and freshmen health classes. Both classes are required credits for graduation. There were 91 ninth grade students, 12 tenth grade students, 5 eleventh grade students, and 84 seniors that responded to the survey. There were 115 female, and 77 males in the survey. The survey indicated 11% of students reported considering suicide in the past year, and 2% reported an actual attempt at suicide. Almost 8% of students reported they had been physically hurt by someone they dated. Survey results showed that 10% reported participating in a physical fight. Almost 18% reported that they felt unsafe in school at some point in the past year. The survey indicated that 25% of students reported drinking five or more drinks in a row, within the past 30 days. An alarming 71% reported using marijuana at least once in the past thirty days, and 3% reported use of cocaine in the past thirty days. Within the survey, 2% reported the use of Oxycontin without prescription in the past thirty days. There were 59% of students surveyed that reported it was very easy to obtain alcohol, and 62% reported it was very easy to get marijuana. The survey indicated that 33% of students reported smoking at least one cigarette in the past 30 days.

The YRBS survey will be completed in spring of 2006, for both middle and high school students. The YHS survey has been completed on alternate years whenever possible.

Year End Juvenile Arrest Report-2003

The Gardner Police Department recorded 178 juvenile arrests in 2003. The total was up from 56 arrests in 2000. The report shows 24 arrests for assault and battery (up from 7 arrests in 2000), and 11 arrests for assault with a dangerous weapon. There were 14 arrests for possession of a controlled substance, and 11 arrests for alcohol violation. There were 8 arrests for destruction of property over $250, and 11 for breaking and entering. One arrest was for robbery, and one for false bomb threat.

Student Based Behaviors Assessment

Elementary School	Incidents/2004
Substance Use	None
Physical fight	3
Hate Graffiti	1
Possession of Weapon	1 (pocket knife on bus)
Middle School Incidents	Incidents 2004
Tobacco product possession	7 (Usually related to having a lighter at school)
Smoking	2
Substance Use/possession	3
Physical fight	49
Threat of Attack	19
Assault and/or Battery	50
High School	Incidents 2002/03	Incidents 2003/04
Tobacco	25	28
Drug/Alcohol use	30	25
Physical fight	61	77
Harassment	7	5
Threat of Attack	9	7

Conclusions

The results of our Needs Assessment indicate an increase in violence and substance use within the Gardner School District. There appears to be a real need for focusing on violence prevention and substance use prevention. The health education programs will work to expand protective factors, improve coping skills, and reduce instances of substance use in all areas. Promotion of healthy school and after-school activities and positive social norms will be incorporated. The Second Step program will focus on violence prevention in grades K through 8. Peer mediation and BWRI (Battered Womens Resources, Inc.) programs will be implemented in the middle and high school. DARE programs will continue in elementary and middle schools to introduce and promote prevention of substance use in our students. A focus on middle school students has been recommended by several substance abuse prevention strategies. The intention is to provide increased programming and information at that level. High school health classes, multimedia presentations, MADD presentations, and pre-prom presentations will be utilized to boost and promote information learned in elementary and middle school.

District Wide Plan

Substance Use and Violence Prevention

I. A comprehensive plan to promote programs and curricula that will decrease substance use and violence within our school district will be outlined and implemented. Evaluation criteria will be designated to identify progress and expand programs with positive, proven outcomes.

II. Identified Goals:

A. Increase Protective Factors and supports for all students.

1. Indicators:

1. Improved positive connections, and feeling of safety within the school system

2. Improved self-esteem and problem solving skills

3. Increased positive peer interactions and supports

B. Reduce Violent Episodes within the schools

1. Indicators:

1. Demonstrated problem solving skills within a team of peers

2. Increased ability to define and verbalize problems, concerns, and steps to deal with conflict

3. Decrease in negative interactions and behavioral interventions at each school

C. Reduce Reported Incidents of Substance Abuse in both School and Community

1. Indicators:

1. Reduced reports of substance use at school

2. Reduced juvenile arrest reports related to substance use

3. Increase in awareness of positive social norms

Goal Related Activities

2005/2006

I. Goal: To Increase protective factors and supports for all students, using proven health and mental health curricula and programs.

II. Activities:

a. Second Step Program for grades K through 8

b. DARE education

c. Bullying awareness and prevention program, grades 1 through 3

d. Battered Women’s Resources Inc. (BWRI) counselors assist with Bullying program, providing 1 month of classes with opportunities for role-playing and problem solving

e. Hartwood Curriculum utilized at the elementary level

f. Bullying Awareness Parents’ Night

g. Support groups for elementary students including:

i. ADHD

ii. Self-Esteem

iii. Social Skills

iv. Children of Divorce

h. SADD groups at GMS

i. GCAT (Gardner Community Action Team) to expand to include students and community in efforts to reduce underage access to alcohol

j. BWRI provides specific classes about healthy relationships and domestic violence prevention at GHS

k. BWRI plans to institute a School Violence Prevention Program with peer intervention teaching at GHS

l. LUK educator, Courtney Bisceglia will address GHS health classes regarding consequences of alcohol abuse

m. Support groups for dating violence at GHS will be implemented in the spring

n. Health classes at GHS and GMS address smoking and substance abuse

o. SOS (Signs Of Suicide) suicide prevention classes are provided in GHS health classes

III. Goal: To decrease incidents of adolescent violence within the school district.

IV. Activities

a. Programs as listed above to teach violence prevention and coping skills

b. Increased supervision in hallways, during class changes and during after school events, at GHS and GMS

c. Use of new techniques for detention, home-work remediation, in GMS and GHS

d. Well-defined policies and consistent reinforcement of policies that are related to violence within the school district

e. Conflict Resolution and Peer mediation groups at GMS and (Planned for) GHS

f. Faculty training on sexual harassment and personal harassment

g. Unity week activities

h. Review and update of current dating violence policies

V. Goal: To decrease incidents of substance use throughout the school district.

VI. Activities:

a. Increased monitoring and enforcement of current comprehensive policies regarding substance use during school hours and during after school activities

b. Health education as stated above, including MADD program.

c. Individualized smoking cessation sessions made available to any student wishing to quit smoking

d. Monitoring of all events to prevent substance use

e. Information available regarding smoking cessation during the Great American Smoke-Out

VII. Evaluation of Identified Goals and Activities

a. Periodic evaluation of programs

i. YRBS every other year

ii. YHS alternate years, smaller scale

iii. Specific before and after summaries and statistics as outlined by identified programs

iv. Local and state data trends

v. Health Advisory Committee meetings to assess current status of programs

vi. Continuing needs assessments

b. Comparison of statistics and data from past years with current statistics and data, including:

1. BMI percentages

2. SOS survey statistics

3. YRBS statistics

4. State wide statistics

5. Incident reports and numbers

c. Collaboration with community agencies to enhance and support educational and behavioral changes in our population

d. Community agencies include, but are not limited to:

i. Gardner Police Department

ii. Battered Women’s Resources Inc.

iii. Mass. Dept. of Public Health

iv. LUK, Inc.

v. Henry Heywood Hospital

vi. American Red Cross

vii. ProHealth

viii. Montachusett Technical School

ix. Fitchburg State College

x. Mount Wachusett Community College

xi. American Cancer Society

xii. North Central Human Services

xiii. North Central Community Health Centers of Gardner and Fitchburg

xiv. Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Massachusetts