Safe & Drug Free Schools

Kathy Aders

415 N. 30th Street

Billings, MT  59101

(406) 247-3726

adersk@billings.k12.mt.us

Program Description

Safe & Drug-Free Schools is a program funded under Title IV.  As the name implies, money allocated under this program is for the intended purposes of planning and providing prevention programs in the areas of alcohol, drugs and violence.  Billings Public Schools has joined other school districts in our county to work together with their Title IV funding.  The Yellowstone County Safe and Drug Free Schools Consortium has been in existence for several years and is currently made up of nine area school districts.

Programs and activities promoting prevention strategies and improving school climate are balanced between elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.  Careful consideration and time is spent working with schools, parents and the community, all of which need to partner together for successful prevention efforts.

Activities/Programs

Students

Age appropriate and developmentally based activities and curricula that include the following:

  • Consequences of violence and illegal drug use
  • Promoting individual responsibility
  • Teaching students that most people DO NOT illegally use drugs (Positive Choice Programs/campaigns)
  • Teaching social and peer pressure skills
  • Teaching about the dangers of drugs
  • Engaging students in the learning process
  • Reinforcing in the secondary schools the prevention activities initiated in the elementary schools
  • Character education
  • After-school programs/homework help/mentoring
  • Special one-time events (Red Ribbon Week)
  • Student Assistance (Tobacco awareness/cessation classes)

Staff

  • MBI Training
  • Alcohol, Drugs and Violence Prevention Workshops
  • Mini-grants for specific projects in the school buildings
  • Training workshops for administrators and SROs

Parents

  • Information Dissemination – (Calendars, Pamphlets, Helping Hands, etc.)
  • Parent Connection Resources – Library materials have been moved to the Parmly Billings Library for easier access. Some parenting classes continue to be offered, based on need and interest of parents in our community.

Community

  • Drug-Free Schools Community Coalition
  • Gang Task Force
  • Family Task Force
  • ROOTS of Promise