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2 Jul 2018
Journal Article

Building Schools’ Readiness to Implement a Comprehensive Approach to School Safety

Beverly Kingston, Sabrina Arredondo Mattson (Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, University of Colorado Boulder)
Allison Dymnicki, Elizabeth Spier (AIR)
Monica Fitzgerald, Kimberly Shipman (Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, University of Colorado Boulder)
Sarah Goodrum (Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Northern Colorado)
William Woodward, Jody Witt, Karl G. Hill, Delbert Elliott (Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, University of Colorado Boulder)

Published in Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, July 2018 (Full article text available for purchase)

Abstract

Research consistently finds that a comprehensive approach to school safety, which integrates the best scientific evidence and solid implementation strategies, offers the greatest potential for preventing youth violence and promoting mental and behavioral health. However, schools and communities encounter enormous challenges in articulating, synthesizing, and implementing all the complex aspects of a comprehensive approach to school safety.

This paper aims to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and the application of that evidence in schools and communities by defining the key components of a comprehensive approach to school safety and describing how schools can assess their readiness to implement a comprehensive approach.

We use readiness and implementation data from the Safe Communities Safe Schools project to illustrate these challenges and solutions. Our findings suggest that (1) readiness assessment can be combined with feasibility meetings to inform school selection for implementation of a comprehensive approach to school safety and (2) intentionally addressing readiness barriers as part of a comprehensive approach may lead to improvements in readiness (motivation and capacity) to effectively implement a comprehensive approach to school safety.

Related Work

5 Sep 2018
Spotlight

School climate-safety-AIR-sm.jpg

Young children arm in arm

Building Safe, Engaging, and Equitable Schools

There are no quick fixes or easy solutions to respond to the tragedies that have occurred in schools across the country—but there are evidence-based ways to change school environments so that students and teachers feel safer.
Topic: 
Education, Equity in Education, School Climate and Safety, School Discipline, Social and Emotional Learning

Further Reading

  • Research on Lowering Violence in Communities and Schools (ReSOLV)
  • Creating Safe, Equitable, Engaging Schools: A Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Approach to Supporting Students
  • A Public Health Approach to School Bullying: A Q&A With Xan Young, Senior TA Consultant
  • American Institutes for Research Highlights New Research at American Public Health Association’s Annual Meeting
  • Spotlight on School Climate
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Allison Dymnicki

Principal Researcher
Elizabeth Spier

Elizabeth Spier

Principal Researcher

Topic

Education
School Crime and Safety
School Climate and Safety

RESEARCH. EVALUATION. APPLICATION. IMPACT.

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