Dorri Partain
Managing Editor

Nearly one million dollars in federal grant funding has been awarded to Mattie Rhodes Centers (148 N. Topping Ave.) to implement the Department of Justice’s STOP School Violence Program. This funding will provide behavioral health intervention for more than 3000 students attending Northeast High and Northeast Middle schools.

STOP (Students, Teachers and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act of 2018 provides funding through the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. This award of $999, 998 will fund two Behavioral Interventionists- one at each school-  for a period of 36 months.

In a statement released by Mattie Rhodes Center (MRC), “Youth violence remains a critical public health concern in Kansas City, particularly in communities facing economic hardship and limited access to resources. In the Historic Northeast, where 36.1% of residents live below the poverty line and nearly one-third of the population is under 18, prevention and early intervention are urgently needed.”

To highlight the community partners involved in this program,  MRC hosted a presentation at Northeast Middle School (4904 Independence Ave.) on Friday, Feb. 27. Kansas City Public Schools, Jackson County COMBAT, Family Court, the Kansas City Police Department and the office of Mayor Quinton Lucas were identified as partners by Angela Brunner, MRC Chief Financial Officer.

“We are all working together to  ensure a co-ordinated community-wide approach to safety and prevention,”  said Brunner. “Each of these partners are actively  committed to serving on an advisory coalition that will direct resources and enact policy that will create a larger impact outside just our neighborhood.”

Angela Florez, MRC Manager of School Based Services,  spoke about how MRC has been able to expand services and impact the community by addressing issues before they can escalate.

“We have invested and we believe in the school district. We have started, in the past two years, with a few of these service coordinators, from elementary to middle and now high school,” said Florez. “We can build a rapport with the students, we can build a rapport with the families, and we’re able to work with community partners to collaborate together. The root causes of mental health, trauma,  and violence within the neighborhood and the school can only trickle down so much because we are here full time and actually invest in everything else.”

Two Northeast Middle School students offered remarks about the impact their school’s interventionist has made in their daily school experience.

Seventh grader Ja-miyla said their conversations made her feel safe and Lydianesh offered that she’s received help with her behavior and feels more confident interacting with students and teachers.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas told attendees that his sister was once an instructor at Northeast Middle and he recalled conversations regarding her experience there and how she wished she could affect more students experiencing trauma and other issues.

“The more that we can make sure there is behavioral health intervention for our young people, the more we can make sure that they’re appreciated, the better our community will be for all,” said Lucas.

After acknowledging all the local partners and the STOP School Violence program funding, Lucas said, “This is a difference-maker for our community, the more we care about our young people, the more we treat them as the important, growing – sometimes vexting- human beings that they are, the more we can build an outstanding community long term.”

Behavioral Interventionist Jessica Jimenez began working with Northeast Middle students in December and said her focus is to make sure students feel safe as they discuss issues that are affecting their lives, in and outside of school.

“Every day there’s a situation, and it’s new every day,“ said Jimenez about her work with students.

“I’m excited,” said Northeast Middle principal Dr. Allenda Wilson about the program.  “We need the extra staff to reach more students, it creates a different scene for students, when they build relationships outside classrooms. I think it’s going to be wonderful.”

According to its website, the Bureau of  Justice Administration (BJA) helps America’s state, local, and tribal jurisdictions reduce and prevent crime, lower recidivism, and promote a fair and safe criminal justice system. BJA provides a wide range of resources—including grants, funding, and training and technical assistance—to law enforcement, courts and corrections agencies, treatment providers, reentry practitioners, justice information sharing professionals, and community-based partners to address chronic and emerging criminal justice challenges nationwide.

MRC staff are overseeing the STOP School Violence program and ensuring program compliance. In addition to its school-based services, MRC offers a wide range of activities for families, youth and communities. Visit www.mattierhodes.org  for more information.