Governor Hassan Announces Rochester as First Model Community in Youth Violence Prevention Initiative
Press Release
As part of her efforts to strengthen the safety of New Hampshire's communities and schools through Media Power Youth's media literacy program, Governor Maggie Hassan today announced Rochester as the first model community in the state's Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.
"Public safety truly is our most important responsibility, and while the media is not the only cause of violence, it is increasingly shaping the choices, attitudes, behaviors, and learning abilities of children and teens," Governor Hassan said. "Rochester has demonstrated a commitment at every level of the community and among all stakeholders to addressing the impact of media on children's health, behaviors and academic success, making the city an ideal location for the program's first model community."
Funded through a grant from the Office of the Attorney General that was included in last year's bipartisan budget, the public-private initiative enables Media Power Youth to offer free media literacy teacher training and curricula to elementary schools statewide. Rochester, and other selected model communities, will also be implementing middle, high school and parent programs. The New Hampshire Department of Education is partnering with Media Power Youth to provide technical support.
"We see this as a critical need in our community. The impact of media and media use on our students is evident in our schools every day. We are thrilled to have been selected as New Hampshire's first model community, and we look forward to partnering with Media Power Youth to bring media literacy to Rochester youth and families," Mary Moriarty, Assistant Superintendent of Rochester schools, said.
Additional model communities will be selected throughout the state. Selection will be based on representation of regions, diversity in economies and population, and the same community-wide commitment from school districts to implement media literacy for violence prevention across age levels that the City of Rochester has demonstrated.
Governor Hassan was joined for the announcement at McClelland Elementary School by Deputy Attorney General Ann Rice, Rochester Superintendent Michael Hopkins and Assistant Superintendent Mary Moriarty, Rochester Mayor TJ Jean, Rochester Chief of Police Michael Allen and Rona Zlokower and Sarah Shanahan from Media Power Youth, as well as local and state education officials, including Principal Peter Weaver of Spaulding High School, Principal Valerie McKenney of Rochester Middle School, Principal Michelle McAlister of McClelland Elementary School and district guidance counselors.
McClelland Elementary School students, the Rochester Middle School Chorus, Rochester Middle School Student Leadership and the Spaulding High School Junior ROTC also participated in the event.
"Violence, especially that perpetrated by youth, is preventable," Deputy Attorney General Rice said. "The Office of the Attorney General is proud to partner with Media Power Youth, New Hampshire school districts, and local communities to promote this common goal and strengthen public safety."
Media Power Youth's evidence-based curriculum, "Media Literacy for Safe and Healthy Choices," has been found to be effective by independent evaluation and review. Evaluations have shown that Media Power Youth programs help young people understand and reduce the impact of unhealthy media messages, help them produce and use media in safe ways, and encourage them to make healthy choices.
A public-private partnership, the initiative brings together leaders from the fields of criminal justice, law enforcement, education, health and human services, health care, foundations, and business, as well as parents and community members. Partnering with the Governor and Office of the Attorney General are US Attorney John Kacavas, Commissioner Virginia Barry and the New Hampshire Department of Education, the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, the New Hampshire Pediatric Society, the National Education Association, and the New Hampshire School Counselors Association.
Governor Hassan included $100,000 in violence prevention grant funding in the FY 2014/2015 state budget, and the $50,000 grant for the first year was approved last year by the Executive Council.
The first of eight trainings for those implementing the curriculum was held in Concord in May, attracting more than 50 educators from 26 school districts. Future trainings will be held on July 15th at Keene State College, August 13th at Frisbie Education Center in Rochester, September 19th at Whole Village Family Resource Center in Plymouth, and November 7th at Manchester Community College. Additional dates and locations, including the North Country, will be announced.
For information on becoming a model community or bringing the youth violence prevention program to a school district, please contact Media Power Youth at 603-222-1200 or sarah.shanahan@mediapoweryouth.org
Contact information for Media Power Youth: Rona Zlokower, Executive Director, rona.zlokower@mediapoweryouth 603-222-1200
About Media Power Youth
Media Power Youth empowers youth to lead healthy, safe lives through smart use of media. Based in Manchester, NH, Media Power Youth is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) working locally and throughout the Northeast in collaboration with school districts, communities, research institutions, health and prevention programs, businesses and foundations to provide a continuum of evidence based, health-focused media literacy education for youth, parents, and professionals.
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