PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARY
Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) is the largest public school district in New Mexico and among the top 31 largest school districts in the nation. APS serves a highly ethnically, culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse population of 68,346 students. APS has 88 Elementary Schools, 31 Middle Schools, 13 High Schools, 3 K-8 schools, and 6 schools of choice. APS serves students who live in urban, suburban, and rural areas. The district also serves schools on tribal lands, including a remote area of the Navajo Nation. In addition to the size, 79% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and 19% of students are English Language Learners.
The purpose of the application is to develop and implement high-quality strategies and activities to effectively meet the performance outcomes of improving adolescent health and well-being through school-based surveillance and the What Works in Schools Program. Utilizing What Works in Schools APS will deliver high-quality health education; increase access to health services, including behavioral and mental health; create safe and supportive environments; foster family, school, and community engagement; and collect and use school-based surveillance.
APS proposes to hire a Project Manager to oversee and coordinate with current staff within APS and external partners to implement activities and strategies to meet all requirements for Strategies 1A Health Education, 1B Health Services, 1C Safe and Supportive Environment, 1D Family, School and Community Engagement and 1E School-Based Surveillance.
By the end of the first-year performance period APS expects to achieve or make progress on the following outcomes:
• Teacher and staff knowledge, comfort, and skills to deliver health education.
• Student access to health education instructional programs.
• Student receipt of high-quality health education
• Student and staff awareness of health services for students.
• Student receipt of health services.
• District and school-level access to health services for students.
• Partnerships to support student health outcomes.
• Staff awareness, knowledge, and skills for creating safe and supportive school environments.
• Student participation in positive youth development approaches.
• Student feelings of school connectedness.
• Student participation in safe and supportive school environment activities.
• Staff participation in mental health and well-being activities.
• Opportunities for Student leadership in district and school decision-making.
• School district understanding of short-term trends in youth risk behaviors and experiences and of school health policies and practices.
