CDC recently announced the release of an “Inventory of Federal Activities Addressing Violence in Schools,” a listing of more than 100 projects involving some 10 federal departments and more than 25 agencies.
This inventory was compiled in the aftermath of last year’s Columbine school shootings in Littleton, Colorado to answer the question of what the federal government is doing to respond to violence in our nation’s schools. This is the first-ever listing of federal projects that support strategies to help reduce violence in schools and that acquire and disseminate information about violence in schools.
The inventory summarizes federally supported data collection and analysis, evaluation, research, research synthesis, program and resource development, and technical assistance. Each entry includes information on each project’s key contact, including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. An Internet version of the inventory provides direct links to the different agencies’ web sites.
“Schools have an important role to play in violence prevention. This inventory can help schools find the resources they need to develop policies and programs to prevent school-related violence,” said CDC Director Jeffrey P. Koplan, MD, MPH. The inventory will be useful for school staff, community leaders, parents, policymakers, national organizations, and state, local, and federal agencies.
The federal agencies identified their current and recently completed activities that either directly address the problem of violence that occurs on school property, on the way to or from school, or at school-related events, or indirectly address school violence by focusing on precursors of violence, factors associated with violence, or mechanisms for preventing violent behavior.
The inventory was published as a special report in the April 2000 issue of the Journal of School Health. Copies are available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/violence/index.htm
From the Daily Regulatory Reporter
