Safety is one of the top three reasons parents utilize afterschool programs. Federal statistics also show that 3:00 pm is the peak time of day where persons under 18 to be involved in violent crimes. Risky behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse is included.

(For safety of individuals: see Behavior and Discipline)

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center After School Fact Sheet - Summary document. Sponsored by Center for Disease Control.

School Safety Checklist - Needs Assessment Measure will help you determine what your school is currently doing to create a safer and more enriching learning environment (from TeachSafe Schools).

America's After School Choice: The Prime Time for Juvenile Crime, Or Youth Enrichment and Achievement - A report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids (2000).

National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center - A Federal resource for communities working to prevent violence committed by and against young people.

Teach Safe Schools - "Help school personnel develop a supportive, safe and inviting learning environment where students can thrive and be successful. It provides evidence-based information and techniques to assist the school community in the prevention of school violence."

Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools - For access to resources on improving the quality of drug and violence prevention programs and activities in schools.

National Mental Health Information Center - Provides information about mental health via a toll-free telephone number, a web site, and more than 600 publications; features resources on child mental health and youth violence prevention.

National Criminal Justice Reference Services - Provides access to justice and substance abuse information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide.

Fight Crime: Invest in Kids - National policy advocates; state fact sheets available.

The National School Safety Center - " ...serves as an advocate for safe, secure and peaceful schools worldwide and as a catalyst for the prevention of school crime and violence."

Pre-Employment Screening - What You Need To Know - (Download PDF from Complete Security Investigations)

Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools - Federal office for information and resources

Safe School, Healthy Students - The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative is a grant program designed to develop real-world knowledge about what works best to reduce school violence.

A Review of Violence Prevention Websites - The Melissa Institute has conducted an annotated review of over 400 violence prevention websites. This critical information points to the work of many quality organizations.

Seven Steps to a Safer School - No cost; from TeachSafe.org

AfterSchoolPRO's Searchable Vendor Directory - Select "Safe Programs / Violence Prevention" from the pull-down subject menu

Alcohol  - Articles, Fact Sheets, Best Bets and more (National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center).

General Links on Violence Prevention - (The Melissa Institute)

Smoking Prevention  - Websites, books, periodicals. (Right Decisions, Right Now; funded by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco).