Leading Systems Change
At the heart of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS) Initiative is the expectation that in implementing a comprehensive plan, long-term changes will occur across systems, thereby positively affecting the health and safety of children, youth, and families.
SS/HS comprehensive plans bring together education, mental health, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and other community partners who are intimately involved in the development of children and youth, and who are contributors to the successful operation of safe schools supporting student achievement for all.
At its best, the SS/HS Initiative creates an opportunity for the partnership to lead systems change. It is this kind of change that represents the true intent of the charge to integrate the SS/HS elements.
Systems change supports long-lasting changes that will continue after funding itself is gone. Leading for systems change through an SS/HS Initiative can leave behind a legacy of healthier students and safer schools.
Strategic PlanningStrategic planning is an integral part of any successful initiative. It is not a single event, but a series of events focused on plan development, review, and revision. | Leadership SkillsAlthough leadership is often invested in or expected of persons of formal authority—such as a project director—leadership encompasses a set of functions that may be performed by different people in different roles throughout the school district and community partnership organizations. |
Facilitating ChangeLeaders within your initiative will be involved in facilitating change within and across the systems of school, mental health providers, law enforcement agencies, and juvenile justice entities. |
