Meaningful Family and Community Engagement NDTAC Topical Call June 24, 2014.
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Meaningful Family and Community Engagement NDTAC Topical Call June 24, 2014
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Transcript of Meaningful Family and Community Engagement NDTAC Topical Call June 24, 2014.
Meaningful Family and Community Engagement
NDTAC Topical Call June 24, 2014
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Topical Call Agenda
Welcome and Introductions
The Importance of Family/Community Engagement
Topical Call Series: Recap of Previous Calls
Today’s Topical Call Presentations: NE:
Programs that Encourage Community Engagement Reentry in NE
TN Transition Practices Involving Parents and Community Transition from Treatment Facilities Preparation for Transition to Public School
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Welcome!
Who’s on the call?
4The Importance of Family/Community Engagement
Research has shown that there are many benefits when families/caregivers are involved in their child’s education:
Students are more willing to learn, and they feel better about themselves
They get better grades and attend school more regularly They are more likely to graduate from grade school or high
school and are more likely to continue their education They are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, and they have
fewer instances of violent behavior and suspensions
(Henderson & Mapp,2002)
5The Importance of Family/Community Engagement
Family/caregiver visitation of youth who are system-involved is associated with improved behavior and school performance
Programs that work with families (e.g. develop effective parenting skills, provide reinforcement) have shown success in reducing problem behaviors and increasing school success
Families/caregivers are potentially the most reliable sources of information about their child’s strengths, needs, and experiences and thus should be included in decision-making
(Agudelo, 2013; Garfinkel, 2010)
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Karen Francis, Sr. Researcher at AIR, joined us in December 2013 to:
Discuss the necessity for meaningful family and community engagement at the point of initial contact and system intake
Share strategies for success engagement at this stage
First Topical Call
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Grace Bauer, Executive Director, Justice for Families and Ryan Shanahan, Sr. Program Assoc., VERA Institute of Justice joined us in March 2014 to:
Discuss the importance of maintaining family and community engagement once youth are system involved
Share strategies for connecting families with their youth once they are in juvenile justice programs and facilities
Grace shared her personal story as the mother of two youth who were system involved
Second Topical Call
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Today’s Presentation and Speakers
Importance of meaningful family/community engagement once youth are released from programs and facilities
Presenters: Pat Frost, NDE Title I Consultant Part A, Part D Coordinator,
Education Specialist II (NE) Mark Le Flore, Sr., Manager of Administrative Services, Douglas County
Youth Center James Bennett, Interim Director of Placement & Program Specialist for
Reentry, Nebraska State Probation Administration’s Juvenile Division
Liz Roper, Neglected & Delinquent Program Director (TN) Leslee Graves, Federal Programs Advisor, Neglected and Delinquent
Students, Shelby County Schools Zondra Vasser, Transition Specialist, Youth Villages, Shelby/Bartlett
County
Pat Frost: Introductions and Overview
PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
JUNE 24, 2014
Douglas County Youth Center
Douglas County Youth Center
Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) is a facility where young people up to the age of 19 may be placed while awaiting their court case or facility placement.
DCYC is a 144 bed facility that also has a Staff Secure unit for Status Offenders.
To address the transition of those students identified who recidivate at the highest level, transition services are provided to aide these and other students in the return to school.
The two target areas to address recidivism and has been determined.
1. Youth with IEP’s enrolled in special education returned in 2012 at a 62% rate
2. Youth not receiving family visitation after 30 days returned to DCYC at a 68% rate in 2012.
DCYC Education
DCYC has a school which allows students to maintain the grade level assignments, giving students the opportunity to stay with their home school class schedule
Students may also participate in credit accrual and or recovery if they have fallen behind in scheduled credits.
Read Right is a program where students are assisted one on one to improve their reading levels. In many cases students increase one grade level in 30 days before returning to school.
On line learning is available for students, giving them the opportunity to stay on pace for graduation when they return to school.
High School graduates at DCYC may begin online college classes from Metropolitan Community College to get them started on their path to college.
Teachers have been added to provide tutoring assistance to students on weekends and evenings.
Special Education services are available to IEP students to maintain accommodations for learning for when they return to school.
Family Engagement
The DCYC Family Engagement teacher communicates with parents by phone or mail, providing information regarding: Parent Teacher Conference The DCYC Education program The DCYC information packet (Including visitations times, phone call policy
and a survey of parent concerns or questions) Families are also directed to the Nebraska Family Support
Network where there is a need for additional resources to help families overcome the confusion and frustration regarding the detention of a child. Information about the juvenile justice system The opportunity to be involved in Parenting classes to assist the family
before the youth returns home. Families may be referred to a variety of family support resources before and
after youth release.
Education Career Center
All students are exposed to the Nebraska Career Model with sixteen career clusters: Students have the opportunity to hear and
communicate with persons in different career fields Speakers talk directly with the students and inform
them how they became involved in their career field and how students can follow that path
Students also participated in a Career Fair with a goal of a summer job or future career planning
Career Fair Connections
The goal of the Career Fair is to encourage students to pursue potential employment and, or community connections for when they are released.
Community organizations, local government agencies, private sector and education institutions were invited. All youth had the opportunity to interview and fill out applications. Youth were excited to see that there were a variety of opportunities available with employment and agency programs to assist them upon their release.
The biggest reward is that the youth are encouraged to apply for positions with the belief that their mistakes do not identify them or prevent them from having employment.
Home On Monitoring Equipment (HOME)
DCYC has a monitoring program which allows youth to remain in their home and school.
By being placed in the HOME Program, youth have minimum disruption in their daily schedule and the ability to continue their school studies with little interruption.
Youth successfully completing the HOME Program are recognized by the Juvenile Court and they are able to continue their education without court monitoring.
Transition Specialist
The goal of the Transition Specialist is to gather pertinent information regarding the youths’ education and behavior while at DCYC and sharing that information with the court. Provide opportunities for community wrap around services.
With the placement of our Transition Specialist, students have an additional layer of assistance when going to court and returning to school
The Transition Specialist will work with the families and the School District to help with a smooth transition back in to school.
Building rapport with community agencies to develop strong connections to youth in transition.
Transition Specialist (cont)
Develop interpersonal relationships with youth to prepare them to transition successfully back into their community.
The Transition Specialist is also staffed at schools to assist students when they return to school to help them navigate through the challenges of returning to their Home school or starting at a new school.
Communication between the Juvenile Court and the Office of Probation is ongoing for youth scheduled for court.
Upcoming Transition Services
Evening Reporting Center (ERC)is on the horizon for students in need of programming during the peak hours of juvenile crimes, 3:00 to 8:00pm. This ERC is targeted to assist students in need on a higher level of supervision.
Day Reporting Center (DRC) is geared to assist students in need of attending school after being court involved, transitioning from DCYC to school, referred from Probation or the HOME program or suspended from their home school.
Poll Question #1
Does your school or facility offer a Career Fair?
Yes____ N0____
Poll Question #2
Does your school or facility offer a Parent Teacher Conference?
Yes____ No____
James Bennett
Transition Specialist – Reentry / Interim Director of Placement
State Office of Probation Administration
Highly intentional Youth Engagement and Youth Participation Family Centered
◦ Family Team Meetings Individualized Reentry Plans
◦ Coordination of efforts◦ Judicial involvement
Preparedness◦ School, Treatment, Medication
Reentry in Nebraska
Team of Stakeholders◦ Lincoln Public Schools - Youth Development Team◦ HUB Central Access Point for Young Adults◦ Mentoring Programs
Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters University of Nebraska Omaha - Criminal Justice
Department◦ Families Inspiring Families◦ Probation◦ Nebraska Department of Health and Human
Services – Office of Juvenile Services
Lancaster County Reentry Grant
Is there an identified person in your school (student returns to) that has the specific duty to deal with students coming back from out of home placements on reentry?
Y or N
Polling Question #3
Nebraska Department of Education – Out of Home Placement Committee (OHP)◦ Transition Liaison in the 39 largest school districts
Educational Court Report Rural Improvement for Schooling and
Employment (RISE) Nebraska VR (Voc. Rehab)
◦ Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) Probation Officers in Schools
Probation and School Engagement
Probation Philosophy LB561 Training Family Engagement Principles Partnering with Nebraska’s family
organizations Family Treatment Options
◦ Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), ◦ Functional Family Therapy (FFT)◦ Boys Town In Home Family Services (IHFS)
Probation and Family Engagement
Transition Specialist ◦ Lincoln Public Schools – Pathfinder Program◦ Lancaster County Youth Services Center
Transitioning of youth in and out of the detention center
Life skills programming Community engagement Tutoring Youth advocate
Previous Work
Relationships! Finding advocates in schools
◦ Never the same person in a school Principal, Associate Principle, Counselor, Social
Worker, Registrar, Secretary, Teacher, Attendance Coordinator
◦ Virus or Termite Effect School Visits
◦ First 48◦ Youth driven
Youth decides extent of family engagement◦ Tutoring◦ Community Engagement◦ Texting
Transition - What Worked
Does My school consistently get credits applied to students transcripts that were earned in out of home placements?
Y or N
Polling Question #4
Transition Practices Involving Parents and Community
Title I-Neglected, Delinquent, At-Risk Program
Liz Roper , Neglected & Delinquent Program Director
The Program At A Glance
Subpart 2- LEA 99% of LEA N&D programs are non-public schools, most are non-
profit
Majority of LEA N&D facilities managed through state contract
4 juvenile detention centers coming on board this year
Two day programs- JIFF, Inc.; Parkway Academy
Shelby County Schools reorganized into 7 districts
Largest program serving neglected: Youth Villages in Shelby/Bartlett-367 youth
Subpart 1-SA State Agencies Dept. of Children’s Services & Dept. of Correction
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2014-15 Preliminary State Agency Title I, Part D Subpart 1 Funding
$501,244 Preliminary Allocation
Tennessee Department of Correction
$140,998 Targeted Assisted funding generated through 10 prisons to serve 138 youth in: Northwest Correctional Complex Tennessee Prison for Women
Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
$360,246 Schoolwide funding generated to serve 359 youth in: Mountain View Youth Center Wilder Youth Center Woodlawn Hills Youth Center
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2014-15 Preliminary LEA Title I Funding
147 school districts in Tennessee
$1,927,267 Title I, Part A funds Serving 2057 neglected child/youth in 28 school districts
$749,664 Title I, Part D Subpart 2 fundsServing 1211 delinquent child/youth in 15 school districts
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Transition Practices Involving Parents and Community
Special Education IEP Meeting
Facility Treatment Team
Level system and earning passes home
Community excursions- exploring community resources: colleges, vocational schools, apartments, library, post office, taking the bus, GED prep. Centers
Developing job skills
Discharge planning
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Tennessee Team On The Call
Liz RoperNeglected & Delinquent Program DirectorDivision of Special PopulationsTennessee Department of [email protected], (615) 253-0047
Leslee Graves Federal Programs AdvisorNeglected and Delinquent StudentsShelby County [email protected], (901) 416-4291
Zondra VasserTransition SpecialistYouth VillagesShelby/Bartlett County [email protected], (901) 252-2916
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LESLEE GRAVESSHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS
FEDERAL PROGRAMS ADVISOR
TransitionFrom
Treatment Facilities
Transition Advisement
Provide short term, intense case management services to transitional students
Develop individualized service/transition plans addressing the student’s transition needs prior to re-entry
Work with agencies of more restrictive care to facilitate smooth positive re-entry into the school system
Transition
Meet with student prior to (when possible) and during the re-entry in accordance to the needs of the student
Provide initial meetings with school staff and parents prior to the student’s re-entry in accordance with the transition needs of the student
Monitor student progress to ensure effective transition
Addressing Needs
Rectify recordsCheck for IEP needs ( dates, modifications)Transition PlanningCheck files for necessary documentationNotify receiving school prior to arrivalSchedule meeting(s) information sharingAssist with registrationFollow up with student, school staff, and
family to address any additional concerns
Preparation For Transition To Public School
Zondra VasserYouth Villages
Public School Liaison
It is the goal of Youth Villages’ Educational
Department to: Provide adequate education to our
residential and group home youth. Fully meet their educational needs. Provide the least restrictive educational
environment that is beneficial towards the youth.
Transitional Process for In-House Youth
Public school referrals are given by the teacher, program manager, or counselor.
List of referrals are reviewed by Liaison, Director of Education, and principles.
Initial meeting is scheduled with Director of West TN group homes, all group home program managers and counselors.
Contact is made to Leslee Graves, Shelby County Schools.
Transitional Process for In-House Youth
Counselors send the upcoming discharge notice (usually within two weeks prior to discharge).
Parent is contacted in order to seek permission to assist in the transitional process.
Leslee Graves is contacted with an upcoming transitional date, parent or guardian contact, address, and possible school.
A meeting is set in order to connect Leslee Graves with the youth that is transitioning.
Transitional Process for Discharging Youth
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Q&A
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Topical Call Information
Reminder: All topical call presentations and recordings are available on the ND Communities website at http://www.ndcommunities.org/
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Resources
Available on the NDTAC website: Transition Toolkit 2.0: Meeting the Educational Needs of Yout
h Exposed to the Juvenile Justice System
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Resources
Additional resources: Title I Part D Nebraska Funding, Programs and Students
http://www.neglected-delinquent.org/sites/default/files/TitleI%20PartDNebraska2012-13statspfJune2014.docx
Overview of Nebraska’s Academic Advancement (AAP) System http://www.neglected-delinquent.org/sites/default/files/AAPProjectSummary4-13-14.doc
Academic Advancement Plan (AAP) Draft Form (NE) http://www.neglected-delinquent.org/sites/default/files/AAP_FORM_DRAFT4-10-14.pdf
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Resources
Additional resources: Graduation Credit Worksheet (TN)
http://www.neglected-delinquent.org/sites/default/files/GraduationCreditWorksheet.docx
Shelby County Schools Title 1 N&D Facility Student Exit Checklist (TN) http://www.neglected-delinquent.org/sites/default/files/TransitionPlansFacility.docx
