BOSTON TEA LEAVES
Supporting Our Youth For A Safer Tomorrow
Funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Program Overview
The Boston Tea Leaves program, funded by the One World Strong Foundation (OWS), aims to support schools in enhancing student engagement, reducing school violence, improving academic achievement, and fostering resiliency. OWS has secured funding to offer this program at your school site for free, including valuable staff development. This initiative effectively reduces the risk of violence in schools, enhancing school safety and providing students and the school community with proactive strategies to prevent school violence and achieve academic success.
Over the past four years, physical aggression has consistently increased across Boston Public Schools and the nation. Physical aggression ranks as the primary discipline issue in elementary schools. Similarly, secondary schools have observed a pattern of aggressive and violent behavior over the past four years. Additionally, there has been a concerning upward trend in the number of violent incidents reported to the state involving law enforcement.
 
 As the district continues to experience an increase in school violence involving its students, the need for a comprehensive approach to building resiliency in schools is crucial.  The Boston Tea Leaves program will help school staff develop, implement, and expand activities, services, and strategies to decrease youth violence and support the healthy development of our students, staff, and learning communities.  The focus will be creating safe and responsive schools, belonging, emotional well-being and social interaction, and collaborative community engagement.
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How Does This Benefit the Boston Community? ​
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Help Reduce Threats
BTL aims to assist in identifying and managing potential risk factors leading to acts of violence, including verbal and physical, within the school environment to create a safe and secure learning space for all students.
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Decrease Truancy Rates
BTL's objective to tackle the challenge of lowering truancy rates in Boston City Schools is aimed at improving educational access and fostering a more supportive atmosphere for students.
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Achieve Academic Success
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BTL will engage in collaborative projects with a wide range of community organizations, schools, and mentorship programs. The primary objective is to create a supportive environment that fosters academic success for students within the BPS system.
Commonly Asked Questions
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​Q: What are the program's goals?
Our goal is to equip and empower Boston Public Schools to identify better and help youth at risk of radicalization to violence and targeted violence.
Q: Who is involved in this program?
A: This program involves a multi-pronged approach, with key stakeholders including:
- School Staff: Teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, and other school personnel.
- School Care Teams (SCTs): Multidisciplinary teams within the school are responsible for identifying and supporting at-risk students.
- Community Care Teams (CCTs): External agencies and organizations (e.g., mental health providers, youth services, law enforcement) that provide support and resources to students and families.
- Parents and Families: Engaged in the referral process and supporting their children.
- Community Organizations: Local organizations, faith-based groups, and community leaders who can contribute to prevention efforts and provide resources.
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Q: What services are provided?
Training:
- We offer bystander training for school staff, law enforcement, and community members.
- We also provide youth and stakeholder discussion forums on extremism and violence.
- Our Train the Trainer programs are designed for School Care Team (SCT) members.
Mentoring:
- Students at BPS can participate in peer mentoring programs that connect them with local college students.
- We encourage life skills development through mentorship and community-based programs.
Case Management:
- Our Community Care Teams (CCTs) create individualized intervention plans that take a holistic approach.
- We work with community organizations, mental health practitioners, and other stakeholders to coordinate our efforts.
Threat Assessment and Management:
- We collect and analyze data to understand local threat pictures with strict regulations on students' and their families' privacy.
- Regular meetings and communication between the community's stakeholders.
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Q: How does the program work?
1. Identification: School staff trained through our program identify students showing concerning behaviors or potential signs of violence.
2. Referral: Identified students are sent to the relevant Community Care Team.
3. Assessment and Intervention: The Community Care Teams assess the risk level and create personalized intervention plans involving community organizations, mental health practitioners, and mentorship programs.
4. Monitoring and Data Collection: Our program staff will track progress and gather data to help shape city policies and strategies for a safer Boston.
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Q: How can I get involved?
- For School Staff: Participate in training programs, become involved in SCTs, and share information about the program with students and families.
- For Community Members: Learn about the program and its services, volunteer with partner organizations, and engage in discussions about extremism and violence prevention.
- For Stakeholders: Contact the One World Strong Foundation to discuss partnership opportunities or to learn more about the program's data and findings.​​​
REFERRAL NEtwork
​What is the referral network?
The referral network is designed as a collaborative system that involves several key elements:
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1. School Care Teams (SCTs): These teams are an integral part of the school system and are responsible for identifying and providing support to students who are deemed to be at risk.
2. Community Care Teams (CCTs): These external agencies and organizations play a crucial role in offering support and valuable resources to students and their families.
3. Parental Involvement: This component highlights the importance of engaging parents and families in the referral process and ensuring that they understand and are equipped to address any concerns.
So, how does the referral network actually operate?
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When a student needs extra help, the process of getting help involves the steps outlined in the visual aid called A Guide to the Referral Process. Below is a summarized version of the activities that will take place:
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The School Care Team gathers information about the student's situation and decides if the student needs help. If help is needed, the School Care Team refers the student to the Community Care Team, which offers special services and necessary resources. Additionally, It's essential to involve the student's parents. We actively seek their participation to ensure good communication and support during the process.
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