 School Safety Professional Development Grant: Funds to Support Safe and Supportive Schools
The School Safety Professional Development grant opportunity opened on August 1st. Montana’s Legislature created this funding opportunity for school districts to support the delivery of school safety professional development in six domains:
- Youth suicide prevention
- Youth substance use prevention
- School violence and bullying prevention
- School safety and emergency operations planning
- Disaster drills and emergency preparedness training
- School safety technology training
School districts can apply for grants between $1,000 and $10,000 to support professional development training during the 2023/2024 school year. School districts are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as grants will be awarded on a first come, first served basis with preference going to districts who have not received this funding in previous years. Grant reviews have begun but there are still funds available. Awards will be given on a rolling basis until the funds have been expended. The grant application and more information can be found at the School Safety Professional Development Grant website. If you have questions, please reach out to Michele Henson at 406-595-1058 or michele.henson@mt.gov
Please join the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for the 2023 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security on November 1-2, 2023. This two-day virtual event will convene school safety experts, practitioners, and leaders from across the country to discuss current threats in school safety and explore research-informed strategies for addressing security challenges and risks in K-12 schools.
The Summit is designed for all members of the K-12 school safety community, including federal, state, and local school leaders, to learn about and share actionable recommendations for creating and sustaining safe and supportive learning environments. It is intended to both foster a nationwide dialogue on the most critical school safety issues, as well as equip school stakeholders and personnel with resources, training, and expertise to apply in their local school settings and communities.
The event will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and one-on-one interviews with government, private sector, and school safety community leaders. Sessions will cover the latest research, resources, programs, and guidance on issues such as violence prevention, cybersecurity, school climate, emergency planning, student mental health, and physical security.
CISA welcomes participation from any individual with a passion for improving school safety. The subject matter covered during the Summit will be particularly relevant to K-12 school and district administrators; principals and superintendents; school-based law enforcement; teachers and school staff; mental health practitioners; first responders; federal, state, and local government partners; and other school safety and security professionals. There is no cost to attend.
Registration for the Summit will open in mid-September. For more information, please visit cisa.gov/national-school-safety-summit .
 YRBS Results Update: Anticipated Timeline for Release
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for your unwavering patience while anticipating the outcomes of the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The journey of this year's data has been quite an intriguing one. The collaborative efforts of the OPI and the CDC have encountered a series of challenges due to personnel changes, resulting in some unavoidable delays in data processing, both at the federal and state levels.
Furthermore, we encountered an unexpected twist as our raw results, securely contained within boxes, embarked on an unintended detour. Regrettably, a mishap occurred during transit, leading to the boxes returning to us instead, all due to a misinterpretation of the address in Maryland by the carrier involved.
At this juncture, we find ourselves in the anticipation phase as we await the meticulous processing of our data by the CDC. This pivotal step marks the approach of a significant moment: the release of the fresh and comprehensive 2023 YRBS data. Upon completion, each school will gain access to their individualized reports, empowering educators, and stakeholders with essential insights.
We extend our profound gratitude once again for your understanding and patience throughout this endeavor. Rest assured; we are committed to keeping you updated as we progress. Anticipate forthcoming notifications that will apprise you of your distinctive results.
Genie Zeeck, OPI Health Enhancement Program Specialist, 406.444.3178, genie.zeeck@mt.gov.
Thousands of Montana middle and high school students have participated in classroom presentations designed to increase youth awareness about the risks of vaping. The 2023-24 school year will provide the OPI Tobacco Use Prevention Education program an opportunity to increase focus on presenting to 4th through 6th grade students.All presentations are typically 30-40 minutes in length and designed to supplement a district's age appropriate tobacco prevention related health curriculum. These engaging presentations highlight:
- The harmful effects of vaping.
- The high cost of nicotine addiction - financial, physical, social and emotional.
- How teens have been targeted by the tobacco industry.
- Real stories from real kids.
- Quitting resources designed specifically for youth.
Regardless of grade level, if you're interested in scheduling student presentations for your school for the 2023-24 school year, please inquire here or contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or 406.444.0785.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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