Highmark Foundation Now Accepting Applications for 2021-2022 School Grant and Awards Program
Application deadline: Wednesday, March 31, 2021
The Highmark Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2021-2022 School Grant and Awards Program. The goal of the program is to create healthier school environments that experience positive, sustainable, and lasting change through comprehensive strategies. The School Grants and Awards Program has a new look and feel with some changes that are intended to make it easier for schools to apply for the grants and implement the programs.
Public, private, parochial and charter schools, and vocational high schools throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania (excluding Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties) are invited to apply.
The School Grant Program funding supports evidence-based programs that address the following priority areas: positive school climates (formerly bullying prevention), environmental health, healthy eating and physical activity, and school based health. Schools are eligible for grants up $7,500.
Now entering its ninth year, the Highmark Foundation's School Grant and Awards Program has provided more than $2.96 million of support to schools in communities served by Highmark Inc. in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Bullying Prevention Research Symposium Proceedings Paper
Convened by the Center for Safe Schools and the Highmark Foundation, the Bullying Prevention Research Symposium was held in April 2018 to engage stakeholders in reflecting on progress made in Pennsylvania's bullying prevention efforts during the past decade. Representatives from the education, health care and justice sectors, policy-makers, researchers, prevention program providers and grant-makers reviewed recent developments in the field and identified priorities for the future. This proceedings paper summarizes the workgroup discussions, common themes and identifies seven recommendations for advancing bullying prevention in the commonwealth.
A Public Health Approach Demonstrates Positive Outcomes Related to Bullying Prevention
A new report released by the Center for Safe Schools examines the impact of Highmark Foundation funded bullying prevention initiatives. For more than ten years, the Highmark Foundation has worked with community partners to expand and enhance Pennsylvania’s bullying prevention programs, creating the largest and most comprehensive effort to be implemented and studied to date. This work is viewed as a national model for creating changes in school culture. Press Release | Report
Free Resources Available from the Pennsylvania State Police
The Domestic Security Division of the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) provides free services to assist schools. For technical assistance, other requests or to sign up for active shooter training contact PSP at ra-pspoffdomesticsecurity@pa.gov.
Risk and Vulnerability Assessments
In an effort to keep our schools safe, crime-free environments and to protect them from a terrorist attack, the Center for Safe Schools would like to make all school administrators aware of RISK AND VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENTS (PDF), an initiative of the Pennsylvania State Police, offered free of charge. Assessments provide comprehensive examinations of physical facilities and operational procedures; identify critical assets, threat potential and vulnerabilities; and offer recommendations to improve security.