The Lawrence public school district will add a staff member to its suspension-alternative program.

A new anti-drug, -alcohol and -tobacco program — Project Alert — is taking shape in schools.

And mental health services are reaching students who typically wouldn’t think of sharing their problems with anyone.

Chris Squier, coordinator since August of the $9 million Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative in Lawrence, offered these three examples of how the federally funded program would help more children lead positive, healthy lives.

“The goal is to bring together a variety of organizations,” she said.

In a speech Monday at the Hereford House to the Lawrence Rotary Club, Squier said the grant was strengthening partnerships among the district, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Lawrence Police Department, Success by 6 and Kansas University’s Center for Research.

Programs involving those organizations address school safety; alcohol, drug and violence early intervention; mental health prevention and treatment; early childhood development; education reform; and school policies.

For example, grant money was allocated to hire more staff for a program known as WRAP, or Working for Responsible Alternative Possibilities. WRAP counselors work with students to prevent problems that interfere with academic life in school.

“There is now somebody represented in all the schools,” Squier said. “It provides an opportunity for kids who wouldn’t normally have access to a mental health worker.”

She said the major educational component of the initiative was Project Alert, which brings in prevention specialists to discourage consumption of alcohol, drugs and tobacco.

In addition, the grant supports after-school programs at Central and South junior high schools. These help students build a sense of belonging in the community, Squier said.

“The connectivity is so important to our kids,” she said.

The federal grant was awarded in 2002, and projects tied to the initiative will continue into 2005.