The purpose of Title IV is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; that involve parents and communities; and that are coordinated with related Federal, State, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports student academic achievement, through the provision of Federal assistance to —
(1) States for grants to local educational agencies and consortia of such agencies to establish, operate, and improve local programs of school drug and violence prevention and early intervention;
(2) States for grants to, and contracts with, community-based organizations and public and private entities for programs of drug and violence prevention and early intervention, including community-wide drug and violence prevention planning and organizing activities;
(3) States for development, training, technical assistance, and coordination activities; and
(4) public and private entities to provide technical assistance; conduct training, demonstrations, and evaluation; and to provide supplementary services and community-wide drug and violence prevention planning and organizing activities for the prevention of drug use and violence among students and youth.

Second Steps Program --- K-8
Children from preschool through eighth grade learn and practice important skills, such as anger management, cooperation, respectful behavior, and problem solving. These skills help decrease students' negative and violent behaviors—fighting, name-calling, and stereotyping—helping to return the focus of classroom time to where it belongs: learning.
Children also learn to recognize and respect people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and ethnicities. These essential life skills will help students in the classroom, on the playground, and at home.
The SECOND STEP Components
Skills
• Empathy
• Impulse control
• Anger management
• Problem solving 
 
Peer Mediation Program --- 7-12

 The peer mediation program provides an avenue for students to resolve conflicts working with a peer mediator. 
 Peer mediators are trained each year.  The students (gr. 9-12) are nominated by their teacher.  The student must commit to participating in the trainings (which happen after school – 10-12 week training) and to participate in mediation (if pulled from a class, the student is responsible to make up missed work). 
 Teachers are provided with referral forms for peer mediation.  If they see two or more students in a conflict, they can make a referral for peer mediation.  The students are then approached by one of the coordinators of the program and asked if they would like to participate in the mediation process – a key to peer mediation is that it is voluntary. 
 Peer mediators meet on a regular basis to discuss the mediations in confidence and/or to continue to practice by doing mock mediations.
 Currently, there are 6 trained mediators (4 twelfth graders and 2 eleventh graders) and 6 new mediators will be trained next month (5 ninth graders and 1 tenth grader).  These students will also participate in weekly mediation meetings.  Part of these meetings will include discussions to increase access to the program.

 

Ninth grade students participate in a Youth Risk Behavior Survey each year.  The survey analyzes student reports of incidents of violence (in and out of school), as well as illegal drug and alcohol use (both in and out of school).  The grant funds the administration, interpretation of results, and reporting of results to the community.