The Safe Schools Initiative Division (SSID) provides programs and resources that assist in reducing violence and violence-related behaviors in Arkansas schools. Formerly known as the School Violence Resource Center, this Division continues to take a pro-active approach to responding to crime and violence, both on the school campus and within the community.

SRO Program
Safety in schools remains a top issue for law enforcement, educators, parents, and students. Students cannot academically achieve in an environment that is threatening and volatile. In response to some of this
violent behavior, school officials and law enforcement agencies are advocating effective school resource officer (SRO) programs as a way to calm the environment and reclaim the schools. However, law enforcement officers working in schools need a number of skills that are very different than those required for patrol duty.

SSID also provides foundational support for state's School Resource Officer (SRO) program. The Criminal Justice Institute was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing (COPS) to support the program. Basic and specialty school safety training courses for school resource officers, school security officers, and school personnel are offered as a result. The program also produces a SRO program manual to serve as a guide for local law enforcement, agencies, and schools when implementing their SRO programs.

School Resource Officer Task Force
To assist in these initiatives, a SRO Task Force was created to provide input on the content of a curricula designed specifically for law enforcement officers working on a school campus. Members of the SRO Task Force are experienced SROs and subject matter experts, which includes representatives from the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police and the Arkansas Sheriffs' Association, school administrators, the Arkansas Safe Schools Association, and the Attorney General's Office.

In addition to holding regular training courses such as Basic SRO training, SSID also co-sponsors The Arkansas Safe Schools Conference. The conference is an annual professional development event co-sponsored by SSID, the Arkansas Safe Schools Association, and the Arkansas Department of Education, Office of Safe & Drug Free Programs.

Drug Endangered Children
The Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is supported by the work of SSID's Drug Endangered Children Specialist, who: coordinates focus groups, workshops, training or events; coordinates the collection and entry of information included in the drug endangered children database; and acts as a liaison with law enforcement, social services and other statewide professionals interacting with drug endangered children.

Collectively, the alliance consists professionals assisting local communities to effectively and efficiently identify and protect children endangered by caregivers who produce, distribute or use illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

Staying Power
In 2007, SSID received a grant from the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation to create the Staying Power: Dropout Prevention Database and Toolkit. This toolkit was created to aid teachers, administrators, and community champions in their efforts to raise Arkansas graduation rates.

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Criminal Justice Institute
University of Arkansas System
7723 Colonel Glenn Road
Little Rock, AR 72204