UAMS Gets $1.9M Grant for Emergency Response in Little Rock Schools

(UAMS)

UAMS announced that its Institute for Digital Health & Innovation has received a three-year, $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to create a community-based emergency response program Little Rock schools.

The Little Rock Violence Intervention and Safety Innovative Outreach Network (LR VISION) will implement advanced safety technologies, including behavioral threat assessments, to manage and intervene in potential threats early, UAMS said in a news release. It will provide campus digital mapping to enhance emergency responses, anonymous reporting systems that are safe and confidential, and comprehensive site assessments to identify and address safety concerns within school infrastructures.

LR VISION will create a digital learning platform to provide virtual training and education for school faculty and staff, with the UAMS Arkansas Trauma Resource Initiative for Schools providing trauma-informed training.

An advisory council made up of teachers, students and community members representing each school will help identify any emerging issues.

“With school districts facing increasing safety concerns, this project will bring in proactive measures and educational programs to make the Little Rock School District safer and better equipped,” Julie Trammell Sheppard, project director for LR VISION and grant manager with the institute, said in the release. “The goal is to create an environment where every student and staff member feels secure and cared for. It’s exciting to be part of something that provides the district with the tools to create meaningful change and build a stronger, safer community for everyone.”

The Little Rock School District includes 42 school campuses serving over 20,000 students.

The city of Little Rock, the Little Rock Police and Fire departments and Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services are among those providing support for LR VISION.