BCSD-Stop School Violence

This W.O.R.K.S. Inc. is the fiscal agent and will partner with Bibb County School District (BCSD) to implement STOP School Violence in Bibb County School District (STOP BCSD). The Bibb County School District (BCSD) STOP project serves Bibb County, Georgia. Participating are eight BCSD elementary schools (5,122 students in in pre-kindergarten to grade five), with 86.2% of students being African American. In Macon-Bibb County, the violent crime rate is nearly four times that of Georgia and the United States, with 97% of all communities considered safer than Macon. In a survey of BCSD elementary students, 39% reported being physically assaulted (e.g., hit or kicked) at school and 10% never feel safe at school. Of all BCSD disciplinary incidents, 69% are classified harm to person. The deliverables include schoolwide training and coaching in restorative practices and Mental Health First Aid, which are both evidence-based programs for improving school climate. By project end, select school personnel will have received advanced training to be trainers in in restorative practices and Mental Health First Aid. In addition to the training and coaching, STOP BCSD offers opportunities for mental health counseling from project partner Fortified Hope. STOP BCSD also provides students with antiviolence education through promotional campaigns, service-learning projects, and participating in restorative circles, conferencing, and peer mediation. To strengthen project continuous improvement planning and sustainability, BCSD STOP will track outcomes in decreasing out of school suspensions, students' negative perceptions of school safety, and chronic absenteeism.