Washington, DC—Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Deputy Mayor Victor Reinoso announced today that the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education’s (DME) Interagency Collaboration and Services Integration Commission (ICSIC) will implement several evidence-based programs that will address issues that affect students and teachers in the District of Columbia, including school culture and climate, substance use, self confidence, and other mental health issues.  Specific programs include DC START, Second Step, LifeSkills Training, and training for School Resource Officers. 

The Title V of the Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007 requires ICSIC to plan and implement a comprehensive spectrum of evidence-based programs (EBPs) to provide prevention and early-intervention services to children and families. The programs will be implemented in a select number of District schools this year and will serve over 10,000 students. DME plans to expand programs next school year after an independent evaluation of all ICSIC programs. 

Overview of ICSIC programs:

• DC START (expansion into five additional schools) - a research-based model of school-based mental health designed to address many issues that a young student might face, such as: anger management difficulties; behavior/conduct problems; depression; anxiety; alcohol and other drug issues; feelings of isolation; excessive shyness; serious aggressiveness with peers or family; chronic school absences; feelings of worthlessness; or sudden changes in personality.
• Second Step - a behavior  management and violence prevention program that integrates academics with social and emotional learning. Children from Kindergarten through Grade 8 will learn and practice vital social skills, such as empathy, emotion management, problem solving, and  cooperation. These essential life skills will help students in the classroom, on the playground and at home. 
• LifeSkills Training - a K-12 substance abuse prevention program that develops self esteem, promotes healthy life choices and techniques in resisting alcohol, other drugs and aggressive behaviors, and teaches students to resist social pressures and cope with anxiety.
• Training for all School Resource Officers (SROs) - a training program that will thoroughly ground MPD’s SROs, their supervisors, school administrators, and school staff involved in planning and maintaining school safety with preventive policing techniques, safety audits, law-related education in the classroom, and mentorship.