In October of 2014, Saint Paul Public Schools was awarded Project Prevent, a five year grant from the US Department of Education. Our Project Prevent program seeks to transform the school climate with the following 4 core strategies:

1. Define roles for mental health and behavioral staff
2. Improve internal communication regarding social emotional development and mental health services
3. Increase the use of Evidence Based Practices (EBP) according to the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework
4. Improve the process for working with community mental health providers

A district wide Mental Health/School Climate Steering Committee provides oversight to implementation of the program. This group meets monthly and is made up of district leaders and representatives from multiple departments and schools. The Committee receives regular updates on the four core strategies and provides constructive feedback and direction.  

Anticipated outcomes of Project Prevent are:

1. Decrease in violent, aggressive and disruptive behavior in schools.
2. Increase in the number of students in our schools receiving support services to address needs resulting from exposure to trauma, violence or extreme stress.
3. An Increase in the school engagement of students.

For more information about Project Prevent in Saint Paul Public Schools, please contact

Kathy Lombardi (kathy.lombardi@spps.org, 651-744-1958) or Jennifer Vigil (jennifer.vigil@spps.org, 651-744-6318).  

To learn more about the Project Prevent Grant, click here.