RELEASE: August 11, 2000

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School Based Program Grants Help 13,000 More
New Jersey Teens Deal with Problems and Stay in School

Some 13,000 more New Jersey teens will now receive health, employment and social services at their own schools through a major expansion of the School Based Youth Services (SBYS) Program.

Fifteen school districts and community agencies throughout the state have each been awarded up to $250,000 to create SBYS programs that will help teens deal with problems and stay in school.

Early this year, Gov. Christie Whitman proposed a $3.75 million expansion of this nationally acclaimed program, increasing the total Fiscal Year 2001 budget to $11.6 million. Until now, 30 SBYS programs with a budget of $7.8 million have been serving about 25,000 students per year.

"People ask how we can prevent situations like the Littleton, Colo., shooting," said Gov. Whitman. "Well, we think we have part of the answer in our School-Based Youth Services program. By putting School-Based Youth Services programs in more schools, we're expanding an effort that has proven results. Now, more students in more schools will get the help they need."

The new programs are expected to begin offering services in the 2000-2001 school year.

SBYS programs provide school-based, comprehensive services to all students and are designed to reach those students who, without assistance, would be the most likely to end up in costly public assistance programs, institutional care and the criminal justice system. Each SBYS program provides a set of core services including mental health, health and employment counseling, pregnancy, substance abuse, and violence prevention services as well as recreational, informational and referral activities.

New Jersey's SBYS program has received national recognition for its effectiveness in helping adolescents. It won the Ford Foundation/Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Innovation Award and the American Public Welfare Association Successful Projects Initiative Award. The program also has been featured by Bill Moyers in his "All Our Children " program and in numerous governmental and foundation news articles.

"With this expansion, we can help many more kids overcome the problems that may prevent them from succeeding," said Michele K. Guhl, commissioner of the Department of Human Services, which administers the program. "This program doesn't reinvent the wheel but builds on strong community programs that collaborate, thereby freeing up school staff to better do their jobs."

In several school districts where SBYS programs exist, there have been significant decreases in teen birth rates, high school dropout rates, student absenteeism and teen violence. Through the program, students can also receive services from community organizations that have expertise in dealing with family and social problems.

The 15 programs awarded funding were chosen from among 40 proposals. Programs were chosen based on need, clear goals and objectives, the strength of the managing agency, a strong plan for integration into schools, a strong community collaboration, core services, a creative marketing plan and a space in which to house the program.

The Department of Human Services launched the SBYS program in 1987. This was the first statewide initiative in the country to integrate a range of services for adolescents in one location at or near schools. By creating partnerships between schools and community agencies, the program sought to provide youth with the services and supports they need to complete their education, obtain employment skills and lead a mentally and physically healthy life.