Interventions and Resources for At-Risk Students

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Interventions and Interventions and Resources for Resources for At-Risk Students At-Risk Students Dorann Tanner, LGSW, C-SSWS Dorann Tanner, LGSW, C-SSWS Social Worker Social Worker Shelby County Schools Shelby County Schools Student Services Student Services

description

CAP Conference Presentation 6.09

Transcript of Interventions and Resources for At-Risk Students

Page 1: Interventions and Resources for At-Risk Students

Interventions and Resources forInterventions and Resources for At-Risk Students At-Risk Students

Dorann Tanner, LGSW, C-SSWSDorann Tanner, LGSW, C-SSWS

Social WorkerSocial WorkerShelby County SchoolsShelby County Schools

Student ServicesStudent Services

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What makes a student at-risk?What makes a student at-risk?

• Students who are not experiencing school success Students who are not experiencing school success and are in danger of school failure and/or non-and are in danger of school failure and/or non-completioncompletion

• The Alabama State Department of Education The Alabama State Department of Education recognizes that students may be at-risk due to recognizes that students may be at-risk due to situations, circumstances, and /or conditions (e.g., situations, circumstances, and /or conditions (e.g., environment, family, health) over which they may environment, family, health) over which they may have limited controlhave limited control

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What makes a student at-risk?What makes a student at-risk?

Key observable indicators may be, but are not Key observable indicators may be, but are not limited to, the following: limited to, the following:

• More than eight days absentMore than eight days absent• Two or more out of school suspensionsTwo or more out of school suspensions• Number of core class failures (over-age and Number of core class failures (over-age and

under credited) under credited) • Drug or alcohol useDrug or alcohol use• Family dynamicsFamily dynamics

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Why do we need to intervene?Why do we need to intervene?

• Alabama’s high school graduation rate Alabama’s high school graduation rate 61.3% - 4361.3% - 43rdrd in the nation in the nation

• Alabama Adults in 2000 Alabama Adults in 2000 1 in 4 did not have a high school diploma1 in 4 did not have a high school diploma

• Alabama’s 2007 dropouts Alabama’s 2007 dropouts

an additional $6.7 billion earned in an additional $6.7 billion earned in their lifetimes had they graduatedtheir lifetimes had they graduated

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Shelby County Facts:Shelby County Facts:

• 27,115 students enrolled in 2008-200927,115 students enrolled in 2008-2009• 5th largest school system in the state5th largest school system in the state• Largest ESL population in ALLargest ESL population in AL• 89% Graduation Rate89% Graduation Rate• Early Warning & Supporting Families Initiative (SFI) Early Warning & Supporting Families Initiative (SFI)

programs implemented to help identify and intervene programs implemented to help identify and intervene with at-risk studentswith at-risk students

• Proactive programs: school social worker, alternative Proactive programs: school social worker, alternative academic settings, and curriculum interventionsacademic settings, and curriculum interventions

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Early Warning ProcessEarly Warning Process

EARLY WARNING Conduct Flow Chart

In or Out of School SuspensionAfter 3 suspensions, EW referral is made

First EW Referral

2nd Conduct ReferralAgency Meeting

3rd ReferralSFI

Consult DA’s Office for Possible Parental Prosecution

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Early Warning ProcessEarly Warning Process

Early Warning Truancy Flow Chart

After 5th Unexcused Absences,referral to Early Warning

After initial EW appearance,with 2 more unexcused absences,

another referral is made and an agency meeting occurs

Another referral results in SFI for family or formal truancy petition filed if truancy is a student issue

Consult DA’s Office for possible prosecution of parent

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Early Warning CourtEarly Warning Court

• Truancy referrals are submitted after the 5th Truancy referrals are submitted after the 5th unexcused absence and after the local school has unexcused absence and after the local school has followed code of conduct guidelinesfollowed code of conduct guidelines

• Conduct referrals are submitted after the local Conduct referrals are submitted after the local school has exhausted all discipline procedures as school has exhausted all discipline procedures as outlined in the code of conductoutlined in the code of conduct

• Referral is screened and forwarded to Referral is screened and forwarded to IntakeIntake at at Juvenile CourtJuvenile Court

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Early Warning Court:Early Warning Court:

• Held weekly at Shelby County Courthouse before Held weekly at Shelby County Courthouse before presiding Juvenile Court Judge Jim Kramerpresiding Juvenile Court Judge Jim Kramer

• Informal court session in which Judge Kramer Informal court session in which Judge Kramer explains school code of conduct and state law explains school code of conduct and state law regarding student and parental responsibility of regarding student and parental responsibility of school attendance and conductschool attendance and conduct

• Attended by parent/guardian, child (if age Attended by parent/guardian, child (if age appropriate), JPO, BOE, and DAappropriate), JPO, BOE, and DA

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Agency Meeting:Agency Meeting:

• Held if referral is received after Early Warning Held if referral is received after Early Warning CourtCourt

• Held at Shelby County Juvenile Probation OfficeHeld at Shelby County Juvenile Probation Office• Includes Family (and child), JPO, BOE, DHR and Includes Family (and child), JPO, BOE, DHR and

Shelby County’s Children’s Policy Council Shelby County’s Children’s Policy Council Coordinator Coordinator

• Round table discussion on why the behavior is Round table discussion on why the behavior is continuing and resources/suggestions to help the continuing and resources/suggestions to help the familyfamily

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Supporting Families InitiativeSupporting Families Initiative

• In 2008, in response to the changes in the Juvenile In 2008, in response to the changes in the Juvenile Code of Alabama, Shelby County Schools Code of Alabama, Shelby County Schools partnered with the Shelby County District partnered with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and the Juvenile Court to Attorney’s Office and the Juvenile Court to implement Supporting Families Initiativeimplement Supporting Families Initiative

• If an additional referral is received after Early If an additional referral is received after Early Warning Court and agency meeting, the student Warning Court and agency meeting, the student may by referred to SFImay by referred to SFI

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Supporting Families InitiativeSupporting Families Initiative

• Social Worker contacts family and completes a Social Worker contacts family and completes a home visit and North Carolina Family Assessmenthome visit and North Carolina Family Assessment

• Social Worker arranges a case staffing with Social Worker arranges a case staffing with community agencies to develop a Family Plan of community agencies to develop a Family Plan of ActionAction

• Social Worker and Juvenile Court meets with Social Worker and Juvenile Court meets with family to implement Family Plan of Actionfamily to implement Family Plan of Action

• Social Worker follows up with family Social Worker follows up with family

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Supporting Families InitiativeSupporting Families Initiative

• SFI works with the Early Warning System to SFI works with the Early Warning System to provide intensive intervention for at-risk studentsprovide intensive intervention for at-risk students

• SFI interventions are designed for the family, not SFI interventions are designed for the family, not just the problem studentjust the problem student

• In 2008-2009, 401 referrals to Early Warning and In 2008-2009, 401 referrals to Early Warning and 17 SFI referrals were processed in Shelby County 17 SFI referrals were processed in Shelby County SchoolsSchools

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SFI Community Partners:SFI Community Partners:

• Parent ProjectParent Project• Spirit of HopeSpirit of Hope• Gateway CounselingGateway Counseling• Family ConnectionsFamily Connections• DAY ProgramDAY Program• Shelby County Family Resource CenterShelby County Family Resource Center• Bradford Health SystemBradford Health System• JPO, DHR, DA JPO, DHR, DA

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Shelby County SchoolsShelby County Schools

• In addition to the Early Warning system, In addition to the Early Warning system, Shelby County also employees a School Shelby County also employees a School Social Worker to proactively help at-risk Social Worker to proactively help at-risk students students

• School Social Worker is based out of School Social Worker is based out of Student Services at the Board of Education Student Services at the Board of Education to serve all schools in the systemto serve all schools in the system

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What School Social Workers do:What School Social Workers do:

• Provide support, referral, & follow-up Provide support, referral, & follow-up • Assist personnel to establish and implement a plan of Assist personnel to establish and implement a plan of

action for at-risk studentsaction for at-risk students• Assist in obtaining social and/or health services for Assist in obtaining social and/or health services for

childrenchildren• Work with agencies in the development and Work with agencies in the development and

implementation of family interventionimplementation of family intervention• Conduct home visits as a liaison between school and homeConduct home visits as a liaison between school and home• Assist with crisis prevention and intervention as neededAssist with crisis prevention and intervention as needed• Serve as an advisor concerning assigned program of Serve as an advisor concerning assigned program of

interventionintervention

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Why are they needed?Why are they needed?

• Assist in improving education of studentsAssist in improving education of students• Assist school administration and counselors with Assist school administration and counselors with

at-risk studentsat-risk students• Intervene with families, not just the studentIntervene with families, not just the student• Advocate for students and their familiesAdvocate for students and their families• Provide various resources to improve family Provide various resources to improve family

relationshipsrelationships• Provide the link among school, home, communityProvide the link among school, home, community

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State Facts:State Facts:

• Total of 131 School Systems and 1,538 schoolsTotal of 131 School Systems and 1,538 schools• 34 systems and 37 schools have Social Workers34 systems and 37 schools have Social Workers

(25% of the school systems)(25% of the school systems)• Many schools in Alabama hire SW as graduation coachesMany schools in Alabama hire SW as graduation coaches• Approximately 90 School Social WorkersApproximately 90 School Social Workers• Less than 5 Certified School Social Workers in the StateLess than 5 Certified School Social Workers in the State• Social workers may be funded by grants including Title I, Social workers may be funded by grants including Title I,

At-Risk, Children’s First and local school fundsAt-Risk, Children’s First and local school funds

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Alternative Academic Settings:Alternative Academic Settings:

• The SUCCESS Program-provides students an The SUCCESS Program-provides students an opportunity for credit recovery and opportunity for credit recovery and vocational/career developmentvocational/career development

• The Shelby County Alternative School-provides The Shelby County Alternative School-provides leadership instruction and behavior modificationleadership instruction and behavior modification

• The DAY Program-provides credit recovery and The DAY Program-provides credit recovery and therapeutic behavior modification for grades 7therapeutic behavior modification for grades 7 thth – – 1111thth

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Curriculum Interventions:Curriculum Interventions:

• Life SkillsLife Skills• Stay on TrackStay on Track• Character EducationCharacter Education• DAREDARE• Too Good for DrugsToo Good for Drugs• Red Ribbon WeekRed Ribbon Week• STARSTAR

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Curriculum Interventions:Curriculum Interventions:

• Homework assistanceHomework assistance• TutoringTutoring• STEP Program for pregnant teens/fathersSTEP Program for pregnant teens/fathers• Freshman ForumFreshman Forum• High School 101High School 101• Teen Driving InitiativeTeen Driving Initiative• School Guidance CounselorsSchool Guidance Counselors

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Additional Resources:Additional Resources:

• Children’s Policy CouncilChildren’s Policy Council• Multi-Disciplinary TeamsMulti-Disciplinary Teams• Juvenile CourtJuvenile Court• United Way Agencies-United Way Agencies- Dial 211Dial 211• PAL’s Phone line- PAL’s Phone line- 1-866-962-30301-866-962-3030• Crisis Center Hot Line- 1-800-999-9999Crisis Center Hot Line- 1-800-999-9999• Alabama Mental Health Referral- 1-800-367-0955Alabama Mental Health Referral- 1-800-367-0955• Alabama Guide to Family and Community ServiceAlabama Guide to Family and Community Service www.optionsforhope.netwww.optionsforhope.net

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Contact InformationContact Information

Dorann TannerDorann Tanner

Social WorkerSocial Worker

Shelby County SchoolsShelby County Schools

Student Services DepartmentStudent Services Department

205-682-7187205-682-7187

[email protected]@shelbyed.k12.al.us