El Rancho Unified School District's Comprehensive School-Based Approach to Youth Violence and Victimization

The Comprehensive School-Based Approach to Youth Violence and Victimization, Category 1 provides funding to support a comprehensive effort to address youth violence and victimization through implementing evidence-based prevention, intervention and accountability efforts in a school based setting. The goals of the program are to (1) reduce the incidence of school violence through accountability efforts for offenders; (2) respond to victimization, exposure to violence, and trauma as a result of violence that occurs in the school, community, or family; (3) improve school safety and climate; and (4) prevent violence, delinquency, and victimization in the targeted community.

Project Safety Net expands and enhances existing programs that address gang activity, youth violence, exposure to violence, victimization, truancy, youth employment, academic performance, and school climate and safety. El Rancho's Unified School District's K–12 enrollment is approximately 8,472 students. Project Safety Net will be governed by the Core Management Team, an existing collaboration of community stakeholders that will be expanded to incorporate the goals, objectives, and activities of our YVV program. The governing body will be composed of representatives at a policymaking level from the following organizations: El Rancho Unified School District; El Rancho Unified School Police Department; LA County Departments of Child and Family Services, Mental Health, and Probation; LA County Sheriff’s Department – Pico Rivera Station; City of Pico Rivera; P.R.I.D.E.; Boys & Girls Club; SPIRITT Family Services; Teen Court; East LA Skills Center; and parents and students. All of the proposed programs (curricula and interventions) are evidence-based, reflect current research and effective practice, and are appropriate for the age, developmental levels, and cultural diversity of the population. The Juvenile Mediation Program, created under this grant initiative, will provide an opportunity for victims and offenders to meet face to face in a safe, controlled environment. CA/NCF