Protective Schools

A Protective School provides an environment that is a buffer, safety net against risk factors or adverse events.

Prevention scientists and policymakers have been challenged to find the best way to bring science-based prevention to children and youth nationwide.  As a result of a meeting of prevention and education experts, and focus groups with teachers, administrators, local and state policymakers, the Smith Prevention Initiatives at the University of Arizona has developed the concept of a “protective school.”  In protective schools rather than taking away from academics, effective prevention is highly compatible with a strong academic program.  A protective school can provide a shield for children who are vulnerable to drug abuse, violence/aggression, pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS.

When a flower doesn’t bloom, change the environment in which it grows, not the flower.

Alexander Den Heijer

The experts’ message was that prevention was not a one-time event or a 10-lesson curriculum.  All aspects of the school organization needed to be considered and involved for systems change to create and maintain a protective school environment.

The model has been refined through two decades of working with schools with state and federal funding from the US Department of Education, SAMHSA, National Institute of Justice, the US State Department, and the Arizona Department of Education and working with educators in over 100 K-12 schools.  We focus on School Safety which includes drug abuse through the lens of school climate.

Protective Schools provides 10 guidelines for creating and maintaining schools that are caring and supportive places to work and learn. Based on research demonstrating that the risk factors for violence, substance abuse, delinquency, and dropout overlap, the Protective Schools model provides an approach to harness the supportive factors within a school environment to mitigate risk factors, trauma, and adverse childhood experience.

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“A protective school is a vision-driven learning community that emphasizes a proactive approach in using resources and knowledge to create a safe and caring environment for the social and academic growth of every child.”

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