MAHONING COUNTY SCHOOLS Many districts in area receive anti-drug grants

An objective is to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youths under 18.
By JoANNE VIVIANO
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Heidi Martin said the large number of fights in the city schools has created statistics to show that violence must be addressed.
The social studies teacher who now serves as the district's Safe Schools manager has found a way to help stem the problem's growth.
"Facing History and Ourselves" is a program that will not only help prevent violence, but it will also teach students history and cultural sensitivity, and help them explore discrimination and prejudice.
"It's fantastic," said Martin, who was trained in the program in Cleveland this summer with three other district staff members.
The program's on-line campus and resources allow each district and school involved to create its own curriculum. Youngstown has selected the Holocaust as its case study, but Martin said the event is not the focus.
"It's not about the Holocaust, it's about the acts of human behavior that led up to the Holocaust," she explained. "It's about human behavior, how it happened."
So far, plans are to introduce the program as a semester-long elective at Chaney High School, most likely beginning in January 2005 or fall 2005, Martin said. It would then be expanded.
Minigrant
Martin said the cost of training includes the ability to borrow textbooks and other resources. A portion of the funding came through the Healthy Valley Alliance.
The funds are one of 10 minigrants awarded by the Healthy Valley Alliance, said David L. Schaffer, executive director of the Mahoning County Alcohol & amp; Drug Addiction Services Board, and a partner in the alliance.
A goal is reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among youths under 18. Schaffer said the grants help strengthen school-based prevention programs to reduce substance use.
Schaffer said the Youngstown program achieves this goal by helping kids explore their emotions and attitudes and develop the skills they need to make decisions about not using drugs.
Schools were asked for proposals, and $5,000 from the Mahoning County District Board of Health was divided into the minigrants. Among 12 requests, 10 projects were funded. Grants were used in the spring or will be used this summer or fall, Schaffer said.
"It's interesting what these schools do with $500," Schaffer said. "There's just not a lot of money available with the state budget the way it is right now, so they've really done some creative things this year."