Harford County Public Schools Safe and Drug-Free Schools Services
Every school in the United States will be free of drugs, violence and the unauthorized presence of firearms and alcohol and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning."
Title IV of No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 replaces the previously authorized Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act. It authorizes continued support of school- and community-based drug education and prevention programming and expands the scope of the program to authorize activities designed to prevent youth violence. "The purpose of the SDFSCA is to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; that involve parents and communities; and that are coordinated with related Federal, State, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports student academic achievement.

The mission of the HCPS Office of Drug Prevention Education is to provide leadership to keep youth safe and alcohol, tobacco and other drug free. Drug, alcohol and tobacco use prevention programs are part of this effort as well as violence prevention and school safety. Programs to promote youth development, resiliency, protective factors, and assets are also included. Harford County Public Schools' prevention programs and youth development efforts foster a positive learning environment that supports academic achievement by:

  • Addressing the consequences of violence and the illegal use of drugs, as appropriate;
  • Promoting a sense of individual responsibility;
  • Teaching students that most people do not illegally use drugs;
  • Teaching students to recognize social and peer pressure to use drugs illegally and the skills for resisting illegal drug use;
  • Teaching students about the dangers of emerging drugs;
  • Engaging students in the learning process; and
  • Incorporating activities in secondary schools that reinforce prevention activities implemented in elementary schools.

Please remember that most students do not use illegal substances. The information on this site focuses on drug and violence prevention, but our schools expect positive behavior from students and partner with them in creating prevention efforts.

How are we doing? – Click on the survey to see what students in our schools are reporting about their usage of drugs and alcohol. - Maryland Adolescent Survey

QUESTIONS? Contact Sharon Grose, Assistant Supervisor of Drug Prevention Education - 410-588-5325 (Fax: 410-588-5369) or Sharon.Grose@hcps. org or Allison Frey, School Tobacco Programs Specialist at 410-588-5365 or Allison.Frey@hcps.org.
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