As the seventh largest school district in the United States with 273 schools and 200,000 students, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) is faced with challenges common to most urban school districts and seeks innovative solutions to promote safety and respond to emergency situations within and around schools. And EW is part of the solution.
The Districts' Office of School Climate and Safety worked with EW to create Safety Teams. The Safety Teams comprise a regional system to respond to emergency situations as well as to implement violence reduction activities and programs.
Each Safety Team:
responds immediately to serious incidents that occur in and around schools: gun violence, assaults, fires, bullying, substance abuse, and gang activity;
conducts and coordinates comprehensive prevention and intervention activities;
engages students to provide them a voice and have them assume responsibility for shaping school climate and prevention programs; and
conducts school climate assessments, coordinating integrated safety and deployment plans to meet District and state standards.
EW corpsmembers are assigned to, and comprise the bulk of, the teams. They serve as part of the safety frontline. They work with school administrators, psychologists, nurses, district and city police, and other school and district safety personnel.
How They Work
Twenty-eight EW members are assigned to one of three regional Safety Teams, each led by a staff team leader. EW's Director of School Safety Projects oversees all the teams' work and coordinates their efforts with the Office of School Climate and Safety.
Most of the teams' prevention programs are provided in the SDP's 10 Persistently Dangerous Schools, and more than 40 priority schools which have been identified by the SDP as needing additional support services.
When responding to a school's needs, prevention programs are established, or in some cases restored or revamped, by closely working with school staff. EW Safety Team members approach program implementation by:
1) creating or advising on program plans;
2) conducting the program themselves or training others to implement the program; and/or
3) frequently locating and coordinating with partner organizations to bring their programs to the school.
Most often, students involved in prevention programs are identified through the use of the District's statistical information regarding incidents, Comprehensive Student Assistance Process and Behavioral Health information and school staff recommendations.
When there's an emergency, the EW team's role is two fold:
To be first responders when an emergency has occurred in a school or community. Taking direction from the OSCS command personnel, EW Safety Team members help first to assemble and organize students in a safe place. They also help identify students or adults who may be overwhelmed by the situation and ensure they are provided with necessary services. They then provide accurate information to students and families through such means as organizing assemblies, classroom presentations, and evening community information meetings at schools.
After the emergency has passed, EW members remain at the school to assist during portions of the day that need additional support to prevent rumor and escalating issues, e.g., student arrivals and dismissals, lunch and recess. In addition, they work with school personnel to review and refine school procedures and programs to keep the school organized and calm after they leave.
2005 - 2006 Highlights
Youth Directly Served
800+ students
Schools Receiving Weekly Support
31 schools
Schools receiving multiple student programs
14 schools
Schools Receiving EW Support
260 schools
Programs for Students
Female Mentoring
Male Mentoring
416 students/22 middle and high schools
192 students/11 middle and high schools, and 2 elementary schools
Group mentoring was provided to students identified by the school through Student Prevention Intervention Logs. Components of Reconnecting Youth were included in all mentoring programs. Topics included: team building, self-esteem, triggers and responses, conflict management, mood management, communication, peer pressure, connecting to adults, understanding depression, mental/physical well being, and decision making.
High School Transition
200 students/2 middle schools
7th and 8th grade students were provided with tools and information regarding graduation into high school.
School and Community Services
Emergency Response
4 schools
Supported the response of OSCS to school emergencies as requested. Note: this number has decreased due to positive changes in the response methods created by OSCS and overall SDP, and focus on EW programming. In 2003 and 2004, EW provided emergency responses to a total of 23 schools.
School Assessments
STAR WALK THROUGH (Safety Technical Assistance and Resource)
43 schools
Performed safety assessments to identify safety needs and completion of safety and deployment plans.
School/Community Meeting Facilitation
2 schools
Regularly attended monthly meetings to facilitate resolving challenges faced by the school and community; provided action plans, including parent training sessions.
School Opening
Support
10 schools
Provided student arrival and dismissal support to schools identified by OSCS.
Home and School Association Start-Up Support
3 schools
Assisted parents to establish new Home and School Associations at their child's school.
School Safety
Meetings
12 schools
Regularly attended school safety meetings and provided support to all other safety teams in schools receiving EW programming as needed.
Special Student Initiatives
“Taking It to the Streets” August 22-23, 2005
7 regions
Distributed and explained SDP and EW safety information to adults and youth in selected school communities. Handed out over 10,000 pieces of information.
Anti-Violence Summit November 5, 2005
1,200 students, parents and school administrators
60 EW AmeriCorps members distributed literature, assisted with registration, helped media and presenters with equipment, and directed attendees to workshops. In addition, Safety Team members facilitated two training sessions.
Martin Luther King Day January 16, 2006
4 schools
Facilitated anti-violence, peace-keeping, decision making themed sessions for elementary and middle school students. Members delivered special sessions on anti-violence at Sheridan and Kenderton Elementary Schools .
National Youth Service Day April 18 and 21, 2006
9 schools/139 students
Mentoring program students participated in: 1) Book Buddies reading sessions with younger students, 2) library card drive with younger students, 3) conducting conflict resolution sessions to younger students, and 4) collecting and delivering donated items to Salvation Army shelter.
Girl's Empowerment Summit May 30, 2006
200 students
Students in EW's 25 female mentoring programs came together for a full day of workshops offered by EW and community-based providers on conflict resolution, healthy relationships, bullying, gang prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, college prep/job readiness.
Training
Members receive extensive training and continual professional development, including:
