Background of Initiative

The Safe Schools Healthy Students (SSHS) initiative began in 1999 through Congressional legislation involving an unprecented collaboration of three Federal agencies: (1) The US Department of Education, (2) The US Department of Health and Human Services, and (3) The US Department of Justice.

The collaboration was in response to tragic school shootings that had occurred in the three prior years.  The SSHS Initiative seeks to develop real-world knowledge about what works best to promote safe and healthy environments in which America's children can learn and develop.

Through grants made to local education agencies (LEA's), the SSHS Initiative provides schools and communities across the United States with the benefit of enhanced school and community-based services in an effort to strengthen healthy child development, thus reducing violent behavior and substance use.  The school-based community partnerships include rural, urban, suburban, and tribal projects.  This Federal grant recognizes that violence among young people is caused by a multitude of factors - including early childhood, family life, mental health, and substance abuse issues - and that no single action can be counted on to prevent it. The SSHS Initiative takes a broad approach, drawing on the best practices and the latest thinking in education, justice, social services, and mental health to help communities take action. Plans are required to address the following five elements:

(1) a safe school environment and violence prevention activities (2) alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention activities (3) student behavioral, social, and emotional supports (4) mental health services (5) early childhood social and emotional learning programs