History

In 2001, the Utica City School District became one of 97 sites in the country to be awarded a federal grant by the U.S. Departments of Education, Justice and Health and Human Services through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative. As a result of this grant, Utica Safe Schools Healthy Students Partnership, Inc (USSHS) was created as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit which remains an integral part of the Utica City School District. This national program is designed to combine school district personnel and community efforts to support a common goal of helping children to make healthier, safer and more successful choices in their lives.

This goal assists students to develop the skills necessary to promote positive mental health development, engage in pro-social behavior, and prevent violent behavior and drug use. These efforts are meant to ensure that all students can learn in a safe, disciplined, drug-free environment. USSUS supports these efforts by enhancing and facilitating community-based programs that have been designed with measurable outcomes.

In 2006, Rome was also awarded a Safe Schools Healthy Students Grant and a Rome Partnership was formed in which Utica Safe Schools was contracted to hire and supervise the school coordinators. Currently, both the Utica and Rome locations connect students and families to school and community-based services, through a School Coordinator at each building.