About Project REACH
A School-based Health Center-led Violence Prevention Program
The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing national problem where children are systematically siphoned out of schools into the prison system. Students of color (our primary focus) receive disproportionately harsher disciplinary actions, which increases the risk of entering the juvenile justice system.
Project R.E.A.C.H. seeks to address the root causes of disruptive behaviors and decrease exclusionary discipline practices in schools by understanding student mental health, collaborating with school staff, and developing targeted resources to create a favorable school climate. Project R.E.A.C.H. leverages School Based Health Centers (SBHCs) mental health services to proactively identify and mitigate risk factors contributing to student disciplinary referrals.
By offering R.E.A.C.H within the SBHC setting, we hope to decrease the barriers and stigma associated with mental health care. This also increases parent and student engagement by integrating mental healthcare into the total care of the student. This allows for earlier screening and identification of mental health needs and addresses needs more effectively and holistically.
Currently, Project REACH is being piloted at 2 Georgia middle schools, KIPP Vision Primary School in Atlanta and Albany Middle School in Albany. After extensive planning, the program successfully started serving 6th- 8th graders at these 2 schools in January 2025.
At the end of the two-year project period, we will evaluate the program by surveying students and staff and analyzing school attendance and disciplinary data