Step 2: Establishing Relationships & Building a Task Force
Step 3: Writing Policies & Procedures
Step 4: Implementing & Evaluating
"It is very important to have public fora in order to gain input from parents, students, and the community"
Establishing Relationships:
The process for implementing a student drug testing (SDT) program follows the usual process for implementing anything new in a school's curriculum. The major decision makers: superintendent, school board, director, etc., will approve an item on the agenda. Usually, one must receive approval before presenting a need to the school community.
After conducting sufficient research on drug use in a school and on student drug testing programs, one is now prepared to share findings and receive feedback. The administrative toolkit provides tips on how to best present data in Step 1.
Upon approval for a SDT program, one will need to build a support team. The following table is an example of how relationships can help build support for a program.
The objective of establishing relationships and maintaining key contacts is to create a wide open discussion on the topic and build strong support for the program.
Remember, programs never get 100% support. Be respectful of those who disagree. Respond to their concerns and suggest solutions to any problems they express.
Selecting a Taskforce:
The purpose of a task force is to create a permanent support system for implementing the program and for evaluation of the program at least once each year.
Task forces are made up of a variety of representatives from the school environment as well as the surrounding community. These "representatives" are called key stakeholders. Often these representatives are leaders in a particular group or organization. They do not necessarily have to be the head of the organization, merely someone in the position to spread information within the organization.
Here are some examples of members who may be part of the task force: