A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

"LINK, Larimer County Interagency Network for Kids"
Fort Collins, Colorado

Located 55 miles north of Denver and extending to the north and west, Poudre School District?s 42 schools serve almost 23,000 students from established neighborhoods, areas of new housing, and rural and mountain areas, both in Fort Collins and Larimer County. Families in these areas are often isolated due to lack of affordable transportation and child care, differences in linguistic literacy, and cultural background. A number of the county?s neighborhoods are at risk because of higher crime rates, unemployment, school drop-out, and poverty. Approximately 19% of students receive free or reduced-price lunches. During the period 1991-98, juvenile crime rose 61% and juvenile violent crime 21%. Approximately 77% of 12th graders reported using alcohol and 38% reported using drugs. Only half the district?s elementary schools have counselors, and four social workers serve the entire district.

In addition to the major partners, the LINK initiative incorporates collaboration by the Larimer County Early Childhood Council, Larimer County Department of Health and Environment, Alternatives to Violence, Suicide Resource Center, community early childhood programs and mental health service providers, TEAM Fort Collins, Loveland Police Department, and the Thompson School District (whose 14,021 students will receive mental health services).

LINK?s menu-driven approach begins with a prenatal and early childhood nurse home-visitation program and training for local providers, parents, and school district staff on pro-social skill development (ECE-CARES and Second Step). LINK will provide a menu of age- and developmentally appropriate violence prevention and prosocial skill development curricula in the schools, parent education supportive of the student programs, and advanced training for school staff in early identification of problem behaviors and in presenting the violence-prevention and prosocial skills curricula. Before- and afterschool programs will offer students school-based, safe activities. Mental health personnel will provide professional assessment, evaluation, and referrals to treatment services for students and drop-outs; offer parent education classes; and promote mental health services. The project?s options for educational reform include extended learning opportunities beyond the regular school day, staff training, and enhancements to alternative education programs for students not succeeding. In its efforts to create a safer school environment, LINK will coordinate security efforts and the provision of physical security services and installation, train school personnel on security, and provide campus security officers and school resource officers.

The Research and Development Center for the Advancement of Student Learning, a community educational research collaborative composed of Colorado State University, Poudre School District, and Front Range Community College, will conduct the evaluation.

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