The Agencies are collaborating on the Initiative to provide students, schools, and communities the benefit of enhanced and comprehensive educational, mental health, social service, law enforcement, and, as appropriate, juvenile justice system services and activities that can help promote healthy childhood development and prevent violence and drug abuse. These services and activities will be designed to ensure both the development by young people of the social skills and emotional resilience necessary to avoid drug use and violent behavior and the creation of safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools. The Initiative is based on evidence that a comprehensive communitywide approach is an effective way to promote healthy childhood development and address the problems of school violence and drug abuse. The population of concern for this program is preschool and school-age children and adolescents and their families who are at risk of violence as perpetrators, victims, or witnesses.

Awards will be made to approximately 50 sites designated by their States as local educational agencies (LEA's). Awards will range from up to $3 million per year for urban school districts, up to $2 million per year for suburban school districts, and up to $1 million per year for rural school districts and tribal schools designated as LEA's.

National Evaluation of the Safe Schools/ Healthy Students Initiative	Due Date: July 21, 1999