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Safe Schools-Healthy Students

Safe Schools-Healthy Students

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Justice have collaborated on the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative since 1999. SS/HS supports school and community partnerships by encouraging integrated systems that promote students’ mental health, enhance their academic achievement, prevent violence and substance use, and create safe and respectful school climates. To date, SS/HS has provided services to 13+ million youth and has offered more than $2 billion in funding and other resources to 365 communities in 49 states across the nation. The ESC is one of three local agencies working with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addicition Services. Each agency is required to survey the needs of their communities, create a plan for techniques and approaches to address those needs, as well as implement those strategies. The five elements that are being addressed in the grant are:
  • Element 1: Promoting early childhood social and emotional learning and development.
  • Element 2: Promoting mental, emotional, and behavioral health.
  • Element 3: Connecting youth, families, schools, and communities.
  • Element 4: Preventing and reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.
  • Element 5: Preventing youth violence and bullying. 

Amanda Castro, SSHS Grant Manager

Photo of Amanda Castro

Amanda is the ESC’s Grant Manager. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology from the University of Delaware in 2008, and received a Master’s Degree in Law and Social Policy from the University of Delaware in 2011. She previously worked as the Sexual Assault Network of Delaware Coordinator, collaborating with multiple statewide stakeholders on addressing the needs of sexual assault victims as well as the sexual assault prevention. For over 2 years she managed substance abuse prevention programs, including statewide Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorders and Alcohol Prevention among young adults and teens, as well creating as a statewide coalition to promote substance abuse prevention. Prior to that, she was a community health educator, conducting sexual health and wellness presentations ranging from STI/Pregnancy prevention to healthy relationships. Amanda also worked with college campus groups on volunteer opportunities in the community. In 2008 she was the recipient of the Benjamin McLukie Memorial award at the University of Delaware as an outstanding senior Sociology major, as well as the Nellie Thompson Rudd Award for scholarship, leadership and service in Women’s Studies. She moved to Ohio from the state of Delaware in January of 2014, and shortly after joined the ESC to manage the Safe Schools / Healthy Students Grant. 
SSHS Grant Manager
Email
(937) 767-1303 x. 1124 

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