The Center for School-Community Collaboration is located in the School of Education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Its mission is to prevent and reduce youth problems in Virginia by working with school and community leaders throughout the state. Initially, the Center provided training programs for school personnel, parents and community leaders that focused on the prevention of youth alcohol and other drug use. This training has expanded to include additional programs that address issues negatively impacting youth, schools, and communities: youth violence, gang activity, school crisis, bullying, truancy and school drop-out.

The guiding principle of the Center is that community-wide action based on collaboration and cooperation is essential to overcoming negative, destructive factors and to promoting healthy, resilient, productive youth. The Center’s training emphasizes community team efforts, and it provides follow-up technical assistance for parent, school and community groups. The Center is currently serving as grant manager for initiatives through the Governor's Office on Substance Abuse Prevention and the Virginia Department of Education.

Did you know that on an average day in Virginia . .

261 Children are born:
40 did not receive prenatal care
20 weigh less than 5.5 pounds
9 are born to mothers younger than 18
76 are born to single mothers
2 children die before their first birthday
23 children are found to be abused/neglected
1 child (ages 12-14) dies
3 youths (to age 18) are arrested for a violent crime
175 young people are processed for a delinquent offense

Source: 2001 KIDS COUNT in Virginia

-Grants for Elementary and Middle Schools
to Support Implementation of the
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Applications for mini-grants are closed. Resources are available to assist schools with some of the required materials to implement this research-proven
GOLD STANDARD in BULLYING PREVENTION!

Click here for more information.