Safe Schools Initiative Division (SSID)
The Safe Schools Initiative Division (SSID) provides programs and resources that assist in reducing violence and violence-related behaviors in Arkansas schools. The Division takes a proactive approach to responding to crime and violence, both on the school campus and within the community.
The Institute has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing to support SSID’s School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. The program provides basic and specialty school safety training courses for school resource officers, school security officers, and school personnel. Upon request, SSID also offers anti-bullying in-service training to teachers and students across the state.
Additionally, the Safe Schools Initiative Division, in
conjunction with the Arkansas Safe Schools Association, the
Arkansas Attorney General’s Office, and the Arkansas Department
of Education, co-sponsors an annual statewide safe school
conference. This annual partnership is aimed at providing
cutting edge training in school safety and its newest
technologies to law enforcement, school administration, school
security, or anyone responsible for school safety or emergency
response. Finally, the SRO Program
maintains a web-based resource clearinghouse of pertinent school
violence information and resources which may be visited at
www.arsafeschools.com.
Dropout Prevention Resource Database and Toolkit Project
The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation awarded the Criminal Justice
Institute a grant to develop and maintain a web-based dropout
prevention resource database that enables Arkansas schools to
develop proven strategies and programs aimed at reducing student
dropout rates. The database contains evidence-based model
programs featuring comprehensive information such as program
description, key outcomes, key strategies, risk factors,
targeted grades, resource needed, time required, and cost.
For more information about this program, please contact Larance Johnson (501-570-8084).

