Schools Get $500,000 Boost to Help Fight Domestic Violence

The hopes to become a local leader in the effort to prevent sexual assaults, domestic violence and stalking among teens and adolescents.

The schools have now got the cash to back up the initiative.

That’s thanks to a half-million dollar grant awarded by the US Department of Justice.

The district is one of 10 districts in the nation selected to participate in program.

The grant, for $511,832 over three years, is part of the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women’s Supporting Teens through Education and Protection Program, or STEP.

Superintendent said the district is grateful for the help.

“This push for prevention and education will help protect our community’s youth,” he said in a statement.

The schools won’t be working alone.

Partnered with the Lakewood Police Department, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and the Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, the schools will develop and implement “Ranger 360,” a plan that will increase middle school and high school student safety, according to a statement.

Officials plan to do that by:

• Establishing a coordinated community response task force to address sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking by developing a comprehensive prevention and education program for community, parents, staff and students
• Providing training to school administrators, faculty, counselors, coaches, security personnel and other staff on the need and concerns of students who experience and the impact of such violence on students.
• Providing a resource person on-site at the schools for the purpose of strengthening effective prevention and intervention strategies for students experiencing such violence
• Establishing a student task force that will work on awareness campaigns.
• Establishing a parent task force to develop a parent outreach and engagement program.
• Providing educational programming designed to raise awareness of teen dating and sexual violence among students.

“We are fortunate to be able to partner with the City of Lakewood’s Police Department, providing expertise in law enforcement, and Cleveland Rape Crisis Center and Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center providing their comprehensive knowledge on teen dating and sexual violence and its impact on victims and families, to begin to systemically address an issue that threatens the safety of our students and therefore, impacts learning,” said Patterson.