More than $1 million in each of the next four years will provide schools and communities with funds to implement a comprehensive plan of activities, programs and services focusing on promoting healthy childhood development and preventing violence and drug abuse.

The plan focuses on safe school environments and violence-prevention activities; student behavioral, social and emotional supports; mental-health services; and early childhood social and emotional learning programs.

CVES serves 17 school districts from Schroon Lake to the Canadian border. It will partner with several health, human-service and law-enforcement agencies in Clinton and Essex counties, including Essex County Mental Health Services, Clinton County Community Services, the Essex and Clinton counties sheriff's departments, probation departments, Plattsburgh State, Behavioral Health Services North, youth bureaus and United Way.

PAID POSITIONS

"We have a budget established and will be recruiting for a project director and school-community coordinator," Stewart said.

"It provides needed services and is an economic boost to the region because it creates jobs for us and some of the contracted agencies."

Each school district receives its own budget for its needs, as do area service providers.

An evaluation team from Plattsburgh State has developed a plan to measure the program's impact and determine whether goals are reached.

"We are hoping this has a sustainable infrastructure long after the grant is over because of the changes it will make," Stewart said.

"We have the right players and the right plan, and everybody is very committed."

sbartlett@pressrepublican.com