Educational Liaisons - New Mexico State...
Transcript of Educational Liaisons - New Mexico State...
Educational Liaisons:
Improving Educational Outcomes for Children and Youth
in the State’s Care
Children’s Law Institute January 7, 2015
Tara Ford, Pegasus Legal Services for Children
Rachel Velcoff Hults, FosterEd Andrea Molina, FosterEd: Arizona
Supplementary Materials
1. New Mexico Court Order establishing the Joint Education Task Force
2. Press Release on the Joint Education Task Force
3. Records Request Letter from the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department
4. Presentation on the Records Request Letter
5. FosterEd: Arizona Referral Checklist
FINAL For Immediate Release April 10, 2014 Angela Peinado, PhD Statewide Program Manager Administrative Office of the Courts [email protected] (505) 490-3324
The New Mexico Supreme Court Issues Education Task Force Report Recommendations to Help
Foster Care Children Succeed in School
In December 2012, The New Mexico Supreme Court established a Joint Education Task Force. The Task Force, co-‐chaired by Justice Petra Jimenez Maes and Governor Susana Martinez, was charged with providing the Court with collaborative advice, recommendations, and proposed strategies for addressing the educational needs of high risk children and youth particularly children and youth in the state’s custody. Justice Maes pointed to national statistics that painted a bleak future for those children who find themselves in the child welfare system:
• Foster children have lower grade point averages, change schools more frequently, earn fewer credits toward high school graduation, have lower scores on state testing, and are more likely to be exempted from state testing.
• Foster children are more likely to be in special education programs with disproportionate representation in classes that are segregated.
• A number of recent studies revealed that only about 56% of youth in foster care as older adolescents graduate from high school.
• Studies also show that only 13% of former foster youth go on to college, compared to about 60% of all high school seniors.
• Only 3% of former foster youth will eventually graduate from college, as compared to about 27% of the general adult population.1
The Supreme Court also required that the Task Force submit a report to the Court, the Governor, the Legislature, the Secretary of the Public Education
1 Casey Family Programs’ Endless Dream Curriculum (2005)
2
Department, and the Secretary of the Children, Youth, and Families Department. The Task Force Report and Recommendations was approved by the Supreme Court on April 2, 2014. The Task Force identified three categories of challenges and barriers to educational success: communication and data sharing, school changes and transfers, and school disciplinary and suspension policies. The four goals to address these challenges will be:
• Improve cross-system communication; • Create a shared data agenda and implement cross-system data sharing; • Ensure seamless transitions for children and youth who change school; and • Identify effective youth supports to prevent school dropout, truancy, and
disciplinary actions.
“It has long been recognized the importance of improving educational outcomes for children and youth in the foster care system,” said Petra Jimenez Maes, Senior Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court and co-chair of the Joint Education Task Force. Without educational success, foster youth are ill-equipped to support themselves as adults: over 22% of former foster children experience homelessness, and almost 25% will be incarcerated within two years of leaving the child welfare system. The Task Force has launched two projects. The first one is to work with the National Center for Youth Law on the FosterEd: New Mexico initiative. This project is a collaborative partnership between critical organizations in social services, courts, and education and will result in foster care and juvenile justice children being able to realize their educational dreams. The funding for this project is supported by the Casey Family Programs. The FosterEd Initiative (www.Foster-Ed.org) will improve the educational outcomes of the hundreds of school-age foster care children living in New Mexico. “Educational stability is critical to improving educational outcomes. Children and youth in care should remain in their schools of origin, when feasible. If school changes must occur, the transition should be seamless,” said Secretary Yolanda Deines, Children, Youth, and Families Department. Another initiative is to host an Education Summit in October 2014 to address the barriers to children in care succeeding in school and to generate solutions for overcoming these barriers. “Every student in New Mexico has the potential for greatness” said Hanna Skandera, Secretary for the Public Education Department “and making sure every child has the opportunity to reach that potential is the goal of this effort.”
The Supreme Court authorized the Joint Education Task Force to continue its work as proposed in its reports and recommendations to identify strategies to address the educational needs of children and youth in the state’s custody and other high risk youth. Justice Maes stated, “As collaborative partners we know that educational success increases the likelihood that our youth will be successful adults.”
P R O T E C T I V E S E R V I C E S P . O . D R A W E R 5 1 6 0 • S A N T A F E , N . M . • 8 7 5 0 2 P H O N E : ( 5 0 5 ) 8 2 7 - 8 4 0 0 • F A X : ( 5 0 5 ) 8 2 7 - 8 4 8 0
ATTN: ____________________, Principal, _______________(name of school)
FROM: ___________________, NMCYFD, Protective Services
PHONE: __________________
FAX#:_____________________
EMAIL: ____________________
I am a case worker with the State of New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department (the
Department), Protective Services Division, and I am working with __insert child’s name , a
student at your school. __insert child’s name is currently in the custody of the Department
and has been placed in foster care. I am attaching the court order stating that above mentioned child is
currently in the Department’s custody. The information contained in this letter and the attached court
order are confidential; and may not be released to anyone other than the school staff for the purpose
of addressing this child’s educational needs. §32A-4-33 of the New Mexico Children’s Code.
The Department is providing you the following contact information. For day-to-day contact regarding the student’s needs, such as requesting signatures for the student to attend field trips or calling should the student be ill at school, please contact the foster parents: _____________________(FOSTER PARENT(S))
_____________________(ADDRESS)
_____________________(ADDRESS)
_____________________(PHONE NUMBER)
State of New Mexico CHILDREN, YOUTH and FAMILIES DEPARTMENT
YOLANDA BERUMEN-DEINES CABINET SECRETARY JENNIFER PADGETT DEPUTY CABINET SECRETARY
SUSANA MARTINEZ GOVERNOR JOHN SANCHEZ LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Revised 06/24/14
The Department requests that you provide all of the following records for the child named in this letter within forty-eight hours to enable the Department and the child’s attorney to understand the student’s educational needs:
1. student identification number (ID) utilized in STARS; 2. district identification number; 3. student transcript; 4. any progress reports not included on transcript; 5. student attendance records in the last year; 6. student discipline records 7. most current year Mandated Standardized Test Results 8. current student Individualized Education Program (IEP) 9. Student English Language Learner (ELL) status 10. Student Next Step Plan 11. Student health records maintained by the school, 12. Student Assistance Team; (including FBA and BIP) 13. Health & Wellness Team Referrals (APS only)
__________________________________________________________________________________ All individuals who will have access to the provided educational records are bound by confidentiality under §32A-4-33 of the New Mexico Children’s Code and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and will not re-release the records to others unless permitted to do so by law. At the present time, (insert parent name unless otherwise court-ordered) is authorized to make
educational decisions for (insert child’s name ). It is important that (insert name of
education decision maker) be invited to meetings regarding __insert child’s name__ while
he/ she is in foster care. In addition, please give notice to the Department of school meetings regarding
(insert child’s name ) by contacting (insert caseworker name ) at (insert
number ). The Department will inform you in the event that the person authorized to make
educational decisions (EDM) for the child or the Department contact person changes. So that you can
easily notify __insert child’s name__ (insert parent name unless otherwise court ordered)
(EDM) about meetings, the education decision maker’s information is:
____________________ ______________________ (EDM ) (EDM2 if 2nd PARENT or 2nd FOSTER PARENT)
___________________ _______________________ (ADDRESS) (ADDRESS) ___________________ _______________________ (ADDRESS) (ADDRESS) __________________ ____________________ (PHONE NUMBER) (PHONE NUMBER) ________________________________________ Authorized Signature
New$Mexico$Joint$Educa1on$Task$Force$$$$$$$
Educa1onal$Stability$Informa1on$Exchange$Form$
What$is$WellAbeing?$
NEW MEXICO JOINT EDUCATION TASK FORCE
Governor'
Supreme'Court'
Public'Educa6on'Department'
Children,'Youth'and'Families'Department'
YES!$
YES!$
ATTN: ____________________, Principal, _______________(name of school)
FROM: ___________________, NMCYFD, Protective Services
PHONE: __________________ FAX#:_____________________
EMAIL: ____________________
State of New Mexico CHILDREN, YOUTH and FAMILIES DEPARTMENT
YOLANDA BERUMEN-DEINES CABINET SECRETARY JENNIFER PADGETT DEPUTY CABINET SECRETARY
SUSANA MARTINEZ GOVERNOR JOHN SANCHEZ LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR 1. This portion to be filled out by the Permanency Planning Worker (PPW).
- Fill out the name of your school contact - Fill out your name and contact information.
I am a case worker with the State of New Mexico Children Youth and Families
Department (the Department), Protective Services Division, and I am working with
__insert child’s name , a student at your school. __insert child’s name
is currently in the custody of the Department and has been placed in foster care. I
am attaching the court order stating that above mentioned child is currently in the
Department’s custody. The information contained in this letter and the attached
court order are confidential; and may not be released to anyone other than the
school staff for the purpose of addressing this child’s educational needs. §32A-4-
33 of the New Mexico Children’s Code.
2. This portion to be filled out by the PPW -Include a copy of the Custody Order from the Court. -Check with your Legal Department for any needed redactions. -Provide updates to any of the initial information provided.
The Department is providing you the following contact information. For day-to-day contact regarding the student’s needs, such as requesting signatures for the student to attend field trips or calling should the student be ill at school, please contact the foster parents:
Foster Parent Contact information:
Foster Parent Name
Second Foster Parent Name
Address 1
Address 2
Phone Number 1
Phone Number 2
The Department requests that you provide all of the following records for the child named in this letter within forty-eight hours to enable the Department and the child’s attorney to understand the student’s educational needs:
1. student identification number (ID) utilized in STARS; 2. district identification number; 3. student transcript; 4. any progress reports not included on transcript; 5. student attendance records in the last year; 6. student discipline records 7. most current year Mandated Standardized Test Results 8. current student Individualized Education Program (IEP) 9. Student English Language Learner (ELL) status 10. Student Next Step Plan 11. Student health records maintained by the school, 12. Student Assistance Team; (including FBA and BIP) 13. Health & Wellness Team Referrals (APS only)
__________________________________________________________________________________ All individuals who will have access to the provided educational records are bound by confidentiality under §32A-4-33 of the New Mexico Children’s Code and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and will not re-release the records to others unless permitted to do so by law.
All individuals who will have access to the provided educational records are bound by confidentiality under §32A-4-33 of the New Mexico Children’s Code and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and will not re-release the records to others unless permitted to do so by law.
At the present time, (insert parent name unless otherwise court-ordered) is
authorized to make educational decisions for (insert child’s name ).
It is important that (insert name of education decision maker) be invited to
meetings regarding __insert child’s name__ while he/ she is in foster
care. In addition, please give notice to the Department of school meetings
regarding (insert child’s name ) by contacting (insert caseworker
name ) at (insert number ). The Department will inform
you in the event that the person authorized to make educational decisions (EDM)
for the child or the Department contact person changes. So that you can easily
notify __insert child’s name__ (insert parent name unless otherwise court
ordered) (EDM) about meetings, the education decision maker’s information is:
____________________ ______________________ (EDM ) (EDM2 if 2nd PARENT or 2nd FOSTER PARENT) ___________________ _______________________ (ADDRESS) (ADDRESS) ___________________ _______________________ (ADDRESS) (ADDRESS) __________________ ____________________ (PHONE NUMBER) (PHONE NUMBER) ________________________________________ Authorized Signature
Schools$A$Example$
Date$Request$Received$'
Date$Records$Sent'
Date$Educa1onal$Decision$Maker$Updated'
Date$Student$Contact$Card$updated$' Other'
Date$Request$Received$'
Date$Records$Sent'
Date$Educa1onal$Decision$Maker$Updated'
Date$Student$Contact$Card$updated$' Other'
1/13/2014$ 1/14/2014$$$ $$ Notes$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$1/14/2014$ 2/3/2014$ 2/3/2014$$$ Emailed$GAL,$Fax$AWy$1/13/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$1/14/2014$$$ $$ $$ Emailed$GAL,$Fax$AWy$1/13/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$1/15/2014$$$ $$ $$ Emailed$GAL,$Fax$AWy$1/14/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
$$ 2/3/2014$$$ $$emailed$worker.$Need$Ex$Parte...$received$1/16/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/16/2014$$$ $$ $$emailed$worker.$Need$Ex$Parte...$received$1/15/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/16/2014$$$ $$ $$emailed$worker.$Need$Ex$Parte...$received$1/15/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
2/20/2014$$$ $$ $$emailed$worker$1/16.$Need$Ex$Parte$Emailed$again$2/18$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
2/20/2014$$$ $$ $$emailed$worker$1/16.$Need$Ex$Parte$Emailed$again$2/18$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/21/2014$ 2/3/2014$$$ $$ Created$1/21$$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$1/24/2014$$$ $$ $$ created$1/21$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
Protec1ve$Services$A$Example$
Date$Request$Delivered'
Date$Records$Received'
Date$Records$Filed' Other'
Date$Request$Delivered'
Date$Records$Received'
Date$Records$Filed'
Reason$for$New$Form'
Date$Request$Delivered'
Date$Records$Received'
Date$Records$Filed'
Reason$for$$New$Form'
1/13/2014$ 1/14/2014$$$ Notes$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/14/2014$ 2/3/2014$ 2/3/2014$
Emailed$GAL,$Fax$AWy$1/13/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/14/2014$$$ $$
Emailed$GAL,$Fax$AWy$1/13/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/15/2014$$$ $$
Emailed$GAL,$Fax$AWy$1/14/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
$$ 2/3/2014$$$
emailed$worker.$Need$Ex$Parte...$received$1/16/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
1/16/2014$$$ $$
emailed$worker.$Need$Ex$Parte...$received$1/15/14$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$ $$
• Example:$$To:[email protected]$From:$County.Officemanager.state.nm.us$Subject:$10_2014_Torrance$$AWach$sheet$if$there$is$data$OR$Put$“No$Data”$in$the$body$of$the$email$$
Subject$line:$Month_Year_County_$
Ready?$Here$we$go!$
Annamarie$Luna:[email protected]$
Danielle$Johnston:[email protected]$
Gloria$Rendon:[email protected]$
Beth$Collard:[email protected]$
Angela$Peinado:[email protected]$
Laura$Nelson:[email protected]$Trent$John:[email protected]$
6/26
Date of referral ________________ FosterEd Referra l Check l is t Please complete the form in its entirety and return to your sites FosterEd Education Liaison. Child Name ______________________________________DOB ______________________
Current School/District____________________________________________ Grade _______
DCSFS Caseworker_________________________________________ ext. _______________
DCSFS Supervisor __________________________________ DES office __________________
Scheduled TDM date_____________________ time__________ location__________________
Factors Y or N 1 Child has(select all applicable)
an IEP______ 504_______ is an English Language Learner______
2 Reported attendance issues If so, How many days missed in the current school year?
3 Potential educational champion Is there someone already part of the child’s life who you believe to be a good candidate for Educational Champion? If so, who and what is their relation to the child?
4 Has this child or his/her siblings been part of a previous dependency? 5 Is the child in danger of being retained or not on track for graduation?
If so, please give any pertinent details:
6 Reported discipline issues negatively effecting education If so, please give any pertinent details:
7 School mobility has had a negative effect on education If so, How many schools has the child attended in the past academic school year? Also, please give any pertinent details:
8 Student is academically behind (i.e. low reading scores, not passing AIMS, etc.) If so, please give any pertinent details:
9 At time of removal, student was enrolled in and currently receiving mental health services. Name of provider organization: