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Safe Schools/Healthy Students Framework

The best resource and backbone of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) work is the SS/HS Framework. The framework helps grantees and the field at large understand and plan a comprehensive approach to mental health promotion and youth violence prevention.

The SS/HS Framework integrates the five SS/HS Elements with Strategic Approaches and Guiding Principles.

  • The SS/HS Elements are the core components of the SS/HS Initiative.  
  • The Strategic Approaches are the roadmap to ensure success in planning and implementation.
  • The Guiding Principles are the values that connect content and program areas of the framework.

You can use this interactive tool at the state or community level to develop a comprehensive plan to meet your unique needs in mental health promotion and youth violence prevention.[1]

The National Resource Center recently launched online learning events for communities interested in addressing youth violence prevention and mental health promotion in their schools and communities. The Engage and Discover Webinar Series will highlight lessons learned and best practices for planning and implementing programs to promote overall child well-being.  A recent webinar in the series includes:

  • Comprehensive School Mental Health Services: Why and What?
    Frank Rider, MS, and Elizabeth Freeman, LISQ-CP & AP, MSW, identify and describe essential components of a comprehensive school mental health program and early steps that can position your community to capitalize on its existing assets to prevent, detect, and treat the mental health needs of its emerging population.

You can always find recordings of past online learning events on the NRC Resources page


[1] SS/HS Framework description from http://www.healthysafechildren.org/sshs-framework.