BUILDING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
This link takes you to a whole section of school environmental health resources and links.
CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION FROM ABUSE
All educators are faced with the challenge of ensuring the safety - both physical and psychological - of the children entrusted to their care. This collection of resources is intended to assist board members and administrators in developing policies that address the challenge. None of these materials, except the NCEA statement, A Sacred Trust: The Safety of Our Children, are recommended or endorsed by NCEA. They are presented for information only. They may serve as a guide or stimulus in developing or updating your own policies and procedures.
NCEA Statement
Read the text of NCEA's statement, A Sacred Trust: The Safety of Our Children.Child Abuse Policy
Example of a detailed policy on child abuse that might be developed by a diocese or archdiocese, reproduced from a book titled Personnel Policies and Procedures."A Board Shouldn't Think It Won't Happen Here"
An article about the board's responsibility to ensure the safety of students.United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: National Child Protection Efforts
A page of links to documents, reports, and media releases that describe national child protection efforts of the Catholic Church.Archdiocese of Washington Child Protection Policy
View and download the entire policy from this Web site, along with other reports and statements. The archdiocese requires training for all employees and volunteers who work with children.
U.S. Department of Education — School Emergency Planning Resources
The U.S. Department of Education provides information and resources for school emergency planning, including a downloadable Crisis Planning Brochure.
U.S. Department of Justice — "School Safety Package"
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) of the U.S. Department of Justice offers resources to support schools, parents, and community leaders as they work to enhance school safety. A free package contains practical guidebooks and CDs that address issues such as developing successful school safety programs and emergency response plans, bullying, bomb threats, underage drinking, school vandalism and break-ins. To order call (800) 421-6770 or visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources — "Stop Bullying Now"
A Web site by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources provides fun materials that kids and adults can use.The Final Report and Findings of the Safe School Initiative: Implications for the Prevention of School Attacks in the United States
A study by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education, 2002. Among other things, this study identified warning signs before school shootings occurred and recommends things educators should do to prevent violence..Creating Anti-Bullying Strategies
A board that wants to develop polices and programs to stop bullying will find that a search on anti bullying produces a number of useful Web sites like this one.A School Anti-Bullying Plan
Ideas of what a school can do to implement a whole school anti-bullying plan.Internet Safety and Terminology ◄
Things every parent and person working with youth should know.Internet and Techology Safety — SafeKids.com
Lots of information and links for making the Internet, blogging, and technology safe, fun, and productive.Internet Safety
"Common Sense Media" site with reviews, booklets, and guides for keeping your kids safe in a 24/7 media world.School Bus Safety
Information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
BUILDING SAFETY TIPS
Provide your local emergency services with a floor plan
A map or floor plan of the building should be on file at the police and fire command center, along with contact information. Many cities have a computerized way for emergency personnel in the field to access the map.Crisis Key Box
Every school and church should have a crisis box to allow emergency personnel access to the building after hours without breaking a door. This secure box placed high on the outside of the building contains keys to the doors. Only the fire department can open this box, using a ladder and a special key carried by most fire trucks. Most fire and police departments recommend this. A widely recognized brand is called the "Knox Box."Crisis Kits
Kits containing items that you will not have time to look for in a moment of crisis should be kept at strategic places.
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