On October 1, 2018, Iowa received a $494,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program. The federal funding is available to help schools prevent and respond to acts of violence. The effort also will focus on helping students who face mental health challenges.
Iowa’s project has three objectives:
- Train teachers and school employees to respond to threats of violence and to prevent violence in schools. Training content will align with school emergency plans.
- Train school staff, area education agency staff, and community members to respond to students who may be struggling with mental health or addiction.
- Educate students on preventing violence against themselves and others.
42 schools across 6 Area Education Agencies will be chosen to participate in the training programs over the three year grant period.
- Year One - 7 schools in 3 AEAs
- Year Two - 7 schools in 2 AEAs
- Year Three - 7 schools in 1 AEA