Fuerza de Toros: Fostering Well-Being and Resilience for a Safer Esperanza Community

Philadelphia-based Nueva Esperanza, Inc. (NEI) founded and managed Esperanza Academy Charter School (EA) proposes to implement the Fuerza de Toros: Fostering Wellbeing and Resilience for a Safer Esperanza Community Project ("Toros Strong"'). The purpose is to foster resilience and promote positive coping strategies among students through STOP Program Strategies 3 and 5, by adopting a comprehensive approach to violence prevention and equity promotion through targeted capacity-building initiatives, prevention education and training, and expanded intervention staffing, to create safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive. Project activities include (1) providing education and training for students, staff, and parents on school safety, trauma, digital safety, and restorative practices; (2) hiring a school psychologist and social worker to increase mental health support services for students, including by providing immediate access to counseling and psychological assessments; (3) adopting safety policies that are aligned across EA K-12 school buildings; (4) establishing sensory rooms in each building; and (5) providing psycho-educational anti-violence groups for middle and high school students in partnership with Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health. These activities will build a culture that is trauma-responsive and promotes safe schools. Expected outcomes include reducing disciplinary incidents and improving attendance for 1,600-2,200 students annually; equipping 300 staff to prevent and respond to school safety concerns through training in trauma-informed and restorative practices; increasing prevention awareness and skills among 735 parents; reaching 13,000 Spanish-speaking residents with educational prevention information; increasing mental health access for at least 105 students through counseling services; adopting revised violence prevention policies and practices and training a rapid response team. EA's 2,200 K-12 students, 90% of whom are Latino, including 25% who are English learners, as well as faculty and staff members, are the intended beneficiaries of the project.