Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center
Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center Newsletter
Issue: # 1September, 2012 
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Welcome to the first issue of the newly developed Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center Newsletter. Below you will find an article that explains our inception and below that some of our charge as a prevention training center for educators.
 
If you received this letter it is because you may have previously been on your local CESA's mailing list as an AODA Coordinator or other interested party in safe and healthy schools. We welcome you and ask that you pass on this information to anyone you think may benefit.
 
You can expect bigger and better things in future issues.
DPI Updates from the Student Services Wellness and Prevention Deparment
Evolution of Safe and Healthy Schools Center

In 1979, the Wisconsin Legislature established the first appropriation to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) in order to assist Wisconsin school districts in creating programs that would prevent or ameliorate student alcohol and other drug abuse.  Along with the funding to make grants available to schools interested in establishing or expanding such efforts, the department was charged with providing opportunities for training and technical assistance to school employees that worked with students in these programs. 

 

With the addition of the federal government's support for school-based drug and violence prevention program support, beginning in 1986, with the fore-runner to the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program, significant government investment in prevention and early intervention programs was established.  In the fall of 1988, the ongoing requirement to provide training and technical assistance for these programs was met through the formation of the Wisconsin Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Education Network (WATODEN) through each of the twelve Cooperative Educational Service Agencies (CESAs).

 

Despite the trend lines on most indicators of youth violence, and alcohol and other drug abuse, following a very positive trajectory over twenty years of Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey results, a very disappointing trend began to emerge.  In federal fiscal year 2009, the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program appropriations began to be significantly reduced.  In federal fiscal year 2011, they were eliminated all together.  Likewise, the state's 2011-13 biennial budget bill eliminated the larger of the two appropriations that had been in place to support these same efforts.  Suddenly, in two fell swoops, over $10 million in annual combined state and federal resources for drug and violence prevention programming was reduced by 90%.  Today, the original state appropriation that was established in 1979, is the only dedicated resource available to establish and maintain school based drug and violence prevention programs.  This single funding source makes just over $1 million available annually to carry out the mandates and to accomplish our ongoing mission to reduce the barriers to student success that are presented by substance abuse and violence.

 

In order to continue to meet the requirements to provide support to Wisconsin public schools, in their ongoing efforts to prevent youth substance abuse and violence, including bullying and harassment, the former WATODEN network has been streamlined to focus exclusively on training of school personnel.  No longer are the program research, resource sharing, advocacy, and coalition support functions of the network able to be supported by the department.  In its stead, the new training center will rely upon five (5) of the former network facilitators to organize and deliver targeted trainings on strategies that are most likely to have positive impact on students in Wisconsin schools.  Those efforts are now underway with a statewide needs assessment having been completed and initial trainings being planned.  Thus, we currently have the Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center.

 

Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools 
map of regions

 

 

 

    
The Faces of Wisconsin Safe and Healthy School Center
 Director:  Tracy Herlitzke
 Phone:  608-786-4838 
 
 
 
North Region (CESA 5, 9, 12)
Coordinator: Lynn Verage
715-453-2141
 
West Region (CESA 4, 10, 11)
Coordinator: Carol Zabel
715-720-2145
 
Central Region (CESA 2, 3, 6)
Coordinator: Jackie Schoening
920-236-0515
 
East Region (CESA 1, 7, 8)
Coordinator: Christine Kleiman
920-465-2139
 
Vision
Every Child Safe, Healthy and Connected
Mission
The Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center builds the capacity of Wisconsin School Districts to implement programs that effectively prevent and intervene in alcohol and other drug abuse and violent behaviors among students in order to reduce these barriers to learning.
  • Training and technical assistance for public schools in Wisconsin
  • Provide precessional development for K-12 educators on strategies that are evidence based or promising practices in the areas of ATODA and violence prevention. Professional learning is via on-line, blended education or face-to-face settings.
  • Provide follow up technical assistance to participants in professional learning events in order to support implementation.
  • Web page and newsletter with access to the most recent data, information, practices and programs.
Events
Cyberbullying Flyer
Cyberbullying
Featured presenter; Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. Nationally recognized expert on cyberbullying will present a day long workshop describing his research on the topic and how to prevent and respond to adolescent issues of technology.
 
Offered at two locations and dates:
  • September 26, 2012, Tomahawk, WI
  • October 10, 2012, Mineral Point, WI 

For more information and registration go to www.cesa4.k12.wi.us and log into "myquickreg".

Resources

Student AODA Mini-Grants

 As part of the Department of Public Instruction's (DPI) efforts to encourage youth initiatives to promote healthy, resilient, and academically successful learners, the Student Services/Prevention and Wellness (SSPW) Team is again making grants available for the 2012-2013 school year. This is the 24th annual Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Student Mini-Grant competition. DPI has approximately $100,000 available for these projects The amount of these student-driven awards may not exceed $1,000 each. Only one award may be granted to any student group, although districts and/or buildings may submit multiple proposals. To find a grant application and guideline go to SSPW Team at DPI website 

  

Bully Awareness Day-September 26

Bullying Awareness Day was established to bring attention to the harmful effects of bullying in the school setting through Wisconsin ACT 309 of 2009; 118.02(9t).

 

Bullying may negatively impact a student's connection with school, their engagement with the curriculum, and their overall ability to learn. Bullying prevention is critical to building a school environment conducive to learning and where students feel safe at all times. Bully Awareness Resources

Suicide Prevention
This area will be designated to Suicide Prevention workshops and information. The center will be working in collaboration with Mental Health America-Wisconsin on a grant that was received to have more education provided to our school district on this topic.
Closing
Please be patient with the Center as we get things up and running. In the next issue we will have a complete calendar of events and more information about our website. 

 

Sincerely,
Tracy Herlitzke-Director
Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center
 

The Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center is a collaborative project between the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the CESA Statewide Network (CSN).

In This Issue
Evolution of Safe & Healthy School Center
The Faces of Wisconsin Safe & Healthy Schools Center
Cyberbullying
Student AODA-Mini Grants
Bully Awareness Day
Quick Links
click on "myquickreg"


 
Upcoming Events

Coming this fall, more professional development -School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time.

by Justin Patchin. This can be done as an on-line class or distance learning book study.