The Cowlitz Safe Schools Coalition provides critical direction for the Safe Schools Healthy Students grant in the area of School Safety. Formed in 2002 through an initiative by the Fire Officials Association of Cowlitz County, the focus continues to be on bringing stakeholders together (Schools, Fire, Police and other Public Safety agencies) to establish consistent information, plans and procedures throughout Cowlitz County as it pertains to Critical Incidents affecting schools. Monthly meetings review new information coming out of OSPI, updates on the critical elements of specific emergency plans and procedures and awareness of currents incidents and trends affecting school safety. With the Safe Schools Healthy Students grant, the Cowlitz Safe Schools Coalition becomes the conduit for stakeholders to stay abreast of grant requirements and enhance collaborative efforts.

One example of this teamwork is the effort that went in to meeting the SSHS requirement of providing Emergency Supply Kits for all classrooms in Cowlitz County over a four-year period. Based on guidelines established with in the SSHS Grant, the Cowlitz Safe Schools Coalition established a process that involved validating the purpose, research, prioritizing and finally arriving at a model that will meet the needs of classrooms during a major incident. The bid process has been initiated and the final steps that go with ordering this resource will occur soon.