Training and Technical Assistance

The Safe and Supportive Schools Project promotes safe and supportive environments (SSEs) to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among adolescents. Through customized training, technical assistance and consultation, the project increases the capacity of 19 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded state education agenciesopens in new window to help school districts create safe and supportive school environments for all students and staff. Education agencies may seek specific assistance for groups of youth at disproportionate risk, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, with an emphasis on young men who have sex with men, homeless youth and youth enrolled in alternative schools.

The APA Safe and Supportive Schools project offers the following services.

• Identifying and sharing research, quality resources and professional development on preventing bullying, sexual harassment and electronic aggression; improving school connectedness; promoting ;parent engagement; and supporting groups of youth at disproportionate risk.
• Facilitating webinars and promoting online professional development about the evidence base for SSE, selecting and implementing SSE strategies, and assessing and monitoring SSE policies.
• Offering follow-up support to help integrate SSE professional development and deliver technical assistance on SSE topics.
• Providing online tools for partners to share resources, questions and success stories.
• Developing and sharing resources for school counselors, psychologists, nurses and social workers on establishing SSE in collaboration with partner organizations:
  • American Counseling Associationopens in new window
  • American School Counselor Associationopens in new window
  • National Association of School Nursesopens in new window
  • National Association of School Psychologistsopens in new window
  • School Social Work Association of Americaopens in new window

The Safe and Supportive Schools Project also offers these professional development programs:

Respect Workshop and Toolbox to Promote Healthy LGBT Youth

The Respect Workshop is designed to help school professionals assist LGBTQ students in coping with their distinctive challenges, promote safe school environments that nurture healthy and successful students, and motivate all students to prevent HIV, STIs and pregnancy. The Toolbox to Promote Healthy LGBT Youth includes supplemental resources to help school professionals support LGBTQ students.

CDC Staff Development Program on Fostering School Connectedness

This CDC-DASH developed programopens in new window is designed to introduce teachers and other school staff members to the concept of school connectedness, generate enthusiasm and interest in improving school connectedness and initiate implementation of a school connectedness action plan.

Promoting Parent Engagement in School Health Program

This CDC-DASH developed programopens in new window will help school staff: generate enthusiasm and interest in improving parent engagement in school health; understand the essential aspects of parent engagement, including how to positively connect with parents, engage parents in meaningful school health activities and address challenges of engaging parents in school health activities; share information with other staff members not attending the program; and initiate steps to implement a parent engagement action plan.