Citation

Hullenaar KL, Hicks CD, Stubblefield MW, Herndon Flip L, Seabrooks SK, Vavilala MS, Laing SS. J. Sch. Health 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.13451

PMID

38637288

Abstract

BACKGROUND: School Resource Officer (SRO) programs do not reduce school violence and increase school discipline. We describe the use of a culturally responsive framework to form a school community collaborative among students, parents, staff, administrators, and law enforcement to reform an SRO program, promote school safety, and reduce punitive measures.

METHODS: Members of a participating school district, a local county, and a university collaborated. Adapting an identified culturally responsive model, a racially/ethnically diverse school community co-developed and implemented a School Community Collaborative (SCC) to address a school safety priority (SRO program reform). The main outcomes were SCC model development and implementation, policy change, and school community feedback.

RESULTS: Sixteen community members participated in the 5-week SCC with students, staff, law enforcement, and parents. The SCC revised the district's SRO memorandum of understanding (MOU) with law enforcement. Participants reported favorable feedback, and 89% reported the inclusion of diverse voices.

CONCLUSIONS: Co-development and implementation of an SCC process with schools were feasible. School SCC participated in a community-engaged evaluation and revision of an MOU.

Language: en

Keywords

collaborative; safety; school resource officer; schools