2016 Rural Behavioral Health Webinar Series Examining Community Schools in Rural Communities August 31, 2016 Thank you for attending this webinar! It will begin shortly at 3:00 pm E.T.
Welcome to Today’s Webinar Audio Information: Dial Into: 877-326-2337 Conference ID: 5314165 For Technical Assistance: Dial: 1-866-493-2825 To Submit Questions: Use the Q&A button at the top of your screen
2016 Rural Behavioral Health Webinar Series Examining Community Schools in Rural Communities
Presenters Luann Kida, MA, LMSW , Community Schools Director, Broome County Promise Zone Colleen Cunningham Rozelle LMSW , Community School Coordinator, Broome County Promise Zone John Kennedy, YMHFA Coordinator Project AWARE/Community Schools Coordinator Ingrida Barker, Ed. S., McDowell County Schools, Assistant Superintendent, Secondary Education and Planning Facilitator Karen Francis, Ph.D., Principal Research, American Institutes for Research
Learning Objectives Participants in today’s webinar will: • Learn about the key elements of a Community School framework; • Learn how effective partnerships and collaborations have been aligned in support of the Community School model at a state and local level; • Learn about the impact of community school initiatives in West Virginia and in Broome County NY; and, • Become familiar with strategies used to advance Community Schools as a way to improve outcomes for young people, their families and communities.
Polling Question #1 In what region of the US is your community located? • Northeast/Mid Atlantic • Midwest • South/Southeast • West/Northwest/Mountain • Southwest • Alaska/Hawaii • Territories
Polling Question #2 What is your role in your program/community? • Management/Administration • Clinician/Service Provider • Family/Youth • Community-Based Provider • Federal, State, or Local Policy Maker • Faith-based/Advocacy/Community Coalition/ • Other
Polling Question #3 Is your community implementing a Community School Model? • Yes • No • Don’t Know
Luann Kida, MA., LMSW, Community Schools Director, Broome County Promise Zone Colleen Cunningham Rozelle LMSW, Community School Coordinator, Broome County Promise Zone SUPPORTING COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN RURAL BROOME COUNTY
Broome County Snapshot Vital Statistics Broome County School Districts Total Population (2011 estimated census) 199,031 • White 88.6% 57%- 97% • African American 5.2% 2% - 26% • Hispanic 3.5% Public School Districts/Buildings 12 / 53 School Enrollment K – 12 27,000 563 – 5,671 Children living in poverty 25.3% Students With Disabilities 16.2% 12.4% – 17.4% Graduation Rate (2015 cohort) 78% 72% - 97% Median household Income $43,399
What was needed Community Partnership: • Better coordination of agencies and schools • LONG RANGE PLAN: County-wide infrastructure that is flexible to support children & families as needs and events change • County Mental Health Department in collaboration with Schools/University/Partners
Engaging All Partners It’s a big job! We need help !! Community Individual Family School One family or organization cannot succeed alone.
Safe Schools Healthy Students Grant • 2009: $5.7 Million Safe Schools Healthy Students Grant • Regional Advisory Committee • Core Management Team • Full time paid Coordinator • Sharing and integration across county – urban, suburban and rural areas • Partnerships to provide services
SHARE Partners • Broome-Tioga BOCES • Broome County School Districts • Binghamton University: Institute of Intergenerational Studies/Center for Family, School & Community Partnerships • Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital: Department of Youth Services • Broome County Mental Health Department • Including KYDS Coalition • Broome County Probation • Broome County Sheriff’s Office • Integrated County Planning Members
BROOME COUNTY, NEW YORK 12 School Districts
SHARE Model • Serving Broome County school districts • Connecting Master of Social Work Interns to schools for social-emotional support • Began family engagement work in schools requesting • Olweus Bullying Prevention • Conduit for community resources
Linking NYS Promise Zone Goals with Broome County Initiatives • Improve attendance • Decrease school discipline frequency • Foster family participation • Enhance school/classroom participation • Facilitate access to health, mental health, human services for children and families • Provide single door portal and service coordination • Improve academic outcomes • Utilize a data-driven decision model • Expand linkages with SUNY (State University of NY) • Lead change/build capacity
Promise Zones • Funded through the New York State Office of Mental Health • Build supports and structure around children to better equip them to be successful in school, work, and life • Framework and not a specific prescription • Community Schools Strategy
Results of Community Schools • Improved academic performance • Higher attendance rates • Positive school climate • Improved school safety • Greater parent involvement • Improved student-teacher relationships • Teachers able to focus on education
Family Engagement Is Key! • Family Engagement has become signature to the work we do with schools • This model has been adapted to a community project around childhood obesity as well as food access • Current community conversations with United Way reveal that engaging families is the area of need
Family Engagement • All family engagement opportunities are voluntary. • Families can be self referred, referred by the school, a friend, a community agency, or their child. • Families are invited through multiple forums. • Patience & persistency, without obligation are important skills to utilize during this part of the relationship building. -Flyers -Phone Calls -Home Visits -Postings on School Websites, School & Community Bulletin Boards -Presented during School & Community Events
Practice Implications Developing and implementing family engagement programs - it is critical to: • Consider and assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and constraints of all partners under the community school model. – Students, Families, School District, Community & Local Agencies/Organizations/Businesses. • Consider and assess the impact of intergenerational poverty, lack of public transportation, social isolation, and minimal access to health services in rural areas.
Relationships Relationship building & maintenance is essential for Student successful family engagement work. Family Institutions Fostering relationships between all partners is a must to provide authentic work. Organizations Community & Agencies Understanding that relationships between multiple partners can be School complex and negotiation is a must. Approach must always be strength based.
Family Engagement • Parent Cafés- A place for parents to connect with community and school through conversation. • Parent Mentoring- Brings parents into the classroom for two hours a week, where they assist teachers with daily tasks. • Parent Groups- Routine meetings scheduled with parents (parent driven, educational & Peer support groups are offered.
Open House Outreach Parent Cafe Referral Process of Engagement Parent Parent Group Mentoring Think with the end in mind. Forum for Parent Leadership
John Kennedy, YMHFA Coordinator Project AWARE/Community Schools Coordinator Thinking Outside of the Box – Building Rural Community Schools from a Local, Regional and State Perspective
Michael Martirano, West Virginia (WV) Superintendent of Schools “Highly effective community schools create strong partnerships with parents, local business leaders, health experts and countless others” “If we are to increase the graduation rate across the state, a key goal in the One Voice, One Focus: All Students Achieving vision plan, everyone within a community must support schools and students”
Resources/Examples • Website • Policy • Resource Guide • Shared Use • Early Warning • Funding (Federal & State) • Unique Partnerships
WV State Community School Supports
Community School Policy Policy 2425 – COMMUNITY SCHOOLS: PROMOTING HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF STUDENTS
The Objectives of WV’s Community Schools Policy • To provide a framework for schools as they work to address the complex needs of students. • To recognize the needs and understand that schools cannot meet students’ needs alone – (schools must engage the community to ensure that all students’ and family needs are addressed so they can be healthy and ready to learn). • Prepared as a positive for county boards to embrace WITHOUT mandates.
Funding Strengths: – Innovation Zone Grants (3 year) – SAMHSA Project AWARE (5 years) – Title 1 – The Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA) Barriers: – Title 1 use if starting with Innovation Zones (IZ) Grant – Drastic reduction of fuel severance taxes
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