The US Bureau of Justice Assitance has awarded The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Offices of Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health a second STOP School Violence Program grant.

Montgomery County public schools already have successful violence reductions programs in place with the help of a 2018 grant, so this grant will help those schools build on that success. The STOP School Violence Grant Program is meant to assist in K-12 school security by providing both students and teachers the tools to help them to recognize, prevent and respond quickly to acts of violence and to encourage a positive atmosphere in school.

“The Office of Drug and Alcohol is fortunate to have such strong partnerships with Montgomery County School Districts. These relationships have propelled forward a number of innovative projects that will only benefit the larger community,” stated Linda Moore-Singleton, Administrator for the Montgomery County Office of Drug and Alcohol. 

Montgomery County received its first BJA STOP School Violence Program grant in 2018, and eight school districts applied to participate. The 2021 BJA STOP Violence Program grant is for three-years and worth approximately one million dollars. Funded grant activities for the 2021 grand expect to begin funding in the 2022-2023 school year.