Subject:
Title
Grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice for the Fiscal Year 2025 Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Program.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval by the Department Director of the grant application and related documents for the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Student, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Program.
• The County will partner with Pinellas County Schools (PCS) to enhance PCS’s Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, aimed to reduce violent crime through the expansion of school safety training resources, mental health programs, and education campaigns for school personnel and students.
• The STOP School Violence Program will provide up to $999,999 ($333,333 per year) in federal funding for a 36-month period of performance, from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028.
• Funding for this grant is not included in the FY26 Adopted Budget. If awarded, a budget amendment will likely be proposed. Funding will be passed through to Pinellas County Schools to carry out the program as the subrecipient. There are no match or cost-sharing requirements.
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Strategic Priorities:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve Public Health
2.2 Enhance Community Safety
Summary:
The County will partner with Pinellas County Schools to enhance their existing Prevention and Mental Health Training Program, aimed to reduce violent crime through the expansion of school safety training, resources, mental health programs, and education campaigns for school personnel and students. Proposed activities include the hiring of two Prevention and Mental Health Specialists to provide extensive training and support to the school district, the creation of a micro-credentialling training program for school personnel, and stipends for school personnel who participate in prevention activities and professional development beyond their contractual obligations.
Background/Explanation:
BJA’s STOP School Violence Program is designed to improve school safety and security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence. This program supports localities, federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits, and school districts to implement training, develop school threat assessment teams and/or intervention teams to identify violence risks, introduce technologies like anonymous reporting tools, or apply other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence.
In 2019, Pinellas County was awarded $499,922 in federal STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Program and partnered with Pinellas County Schools (PCS) to initiate Project SSAVE (Students and Staff Against Violence Everywhere). As the subrecipient, PCS provided research-based Sandy Hook Violence Prevention Program training, awareness and education campaigns to school administrators, personnel, and students. During the life of the grant, more than 305 training sessions were held to provide key training to 18,187 personnel. Training sessions were specific to responding to threats of violence, violence prevention on campus, mental health awareness, substance abuse awareness, and other relevant topics. Additionally, PCS implemented the Summer Mental Health Institute, a 4-day professional development summit specifically addressing the mental health and wellbeing of student and staff with a focus on trauma informed care, working with homeless students, addressing threats of violence, bullying prevention and intervention and other topics addressing violence prevention. All trainings provide participants information on creating a climate and culture of support, acceptance, and how to be a trusted adult.
Fiscal Impact:
If awarded, the STOP School Violence Program will provide up to $999,999 ($333,333 per year) in federal funding for a 36-month period, from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. Funding will be passed through to Pinellas County Schools to carry out the program as the subrecipient. There are no match or cost-sharing requirements. The grant award is not included in the FY26 approved budget.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the Department Director to sign this grant application is granted under the Delegation of Authority from the County Administrator and Improved Grant Procedures memo dated March 28, 2016.
Staff Member Responsible:
Karen Yatchum, Director, Human Services
Partners:
Pinellas County Schools
Attachments:
Intent to Apply
FY25 STOP Notice of Funding Opportunity
DOJ Standard Assurances
DOJ Certification of Lobbying, Debarment, Suspension
FY19 Project SSAVE Final Narrative Report