Title: G1-Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse

Recommendation:

I recommend that the School Board approve the Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse to the U.S. Deparment of Education, effective June 30, 2007 though June 29, 2010, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to sign all documents and contracts related to the grant which are required for implementation of the grant activities.

Description:

This grant proposes to continue to carry out the mission of the Prevention Center in the Department of Safe Schools to improve academic and social and emotional learning by reducing the risk factors for alcohol use and changing attitudes towards alcohol use. The  grant  proposes to implement a comprehensive, customized approach to the problems of underage drinking, which is associated with poor academic performance, a reduced ability to learn, increased dropout rates, lower GPAs, higher truancy rates, and  lack of college planning, as well as violence, fatalities, injuries and future alcohol dependence.

The grant will provide prevention services to four selected high schools as well as the development of technology-based staff development. The design and implementation will be replicated for use by other schools. Program elements include:

• Development of a Youth Council and Strategic Planning Team;
• Implementation of Class Action, a science-based model alcohol prevention program including curriculum, training, materials, payment for substitutes; partnering with Hanley Center;
• Social norms marketing;
• Staff development;
• Underage Drinking Town Hall meetings; and
• Continuation, support, and training for the Alternative to Suspension program FACE IT, a family educational substance abuse program for students and their parents.

The impact of this project will be measured in the reduction of binge drinking, increased number of students who believe alcohol abuse in harmful, increased numbers of students who disapprove of alcohol abuse, decreased alcohol use incidents, increased use of Alternative to Suspension program for alcohol use incidents, and numbers of teachers and staff participating in the on-line course.  Measurement tools will include:  pre and post surveys, focus groups, implementation records, and satisfaction surveys. 

Financial Impact:

The financial impact to the Special Revenue-Other Funds Budget is an increase of $1,195,411 for three years.  All grant related expenditures and contracts are authorized for payment up to the amount of revenue.  There is no financial impact to the Operating Budget.

For Additional Information, contact:

Ann Killets   akillets@palmbeach.k12.fl.us         

Alison Adler

Attachments (list):
Reduce Alcohol Abuse Data Panel.pdf
Q&AG1.doc
Q&AG1.doc
Q&AG1.doc