Creating Safe Schools and Strong Relationships for Vulnerable Youth Populations of Color

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Safe learning environments with caring adults are essential for the academic success and development of youth. Safety and relationships become particularly important when supporting vulnerable youth populations of color. To promote safety as a multifaceted construct that includes emotional, social, psychological, and racial and cultural factors, we bring together leading scholars to examine how schools operationalize safety, and in turn create safe and supportive environments for vulnerable student populations of color. Authors draw on diverse methodologies and theoretical approaches to understand the critical role of safety and caring relationships when supporting students of color from low-income backgrounds, students of color experiencing homelessness, and foster youth of color during their high school years.

Sub Unit

• SIG-School Community, Climate, and Culture

Chair

• Tyrone C. Howard, University of California - Los Angeles

Papers

• What Does Safe Mean? Exploring School Safety Definitions and Policies in Charter Schools - Elianny C. Edwards, University of California - Los Angeles

• School Ethnic-Racial Socialization as a Tool to Combat Racial Discrimination and Promote Adolescent Health - Farzana Saleem, University of California Los Angeles

• Hearing the Unheard: Exploring Students' Decision-Making Process for Disclosing Their Homeless Status to Teachers - Earl J Edwards, University of California - Los Angeles

• The Impact of Stable Relationships and Safe Spaces on Educational Outcomes for Black Foster Youth - Brianna Marche' Harvey, University of California - Los Angeles