Advocating for Safe Schools Margaret A. Sedor, NCSP, ABSNP Peter - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Advocating for Safe Schools Margaret A. Sedor, NCSP, ABSNP Peter Faustino, Psy.D. Faith Zabek M.Ed. School Safety Webinar for SPAN Coordinators Sponsored by the Government and Professional Relations Committee

Five elements of Comprehensive School Safety 1. Develop safe and supportive schools 2. Increase access to mental and behavioral health services in schools 3. Implement school policies that consider psychological and physical safety 4. Multi Tiered Systems of Support 5. Review and revise current policies and legislation

Develop Safe and Supportive Schools

• Integrate learning supports, instruction, and school leadership • Implement MTSS • Improve access to mental health support • Integrate school climate and school safety efforts • Balance physical and psychological safety • Employ effective discipline practices • Consider the unique context of each school environment 4

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/index.aspx

Improve Access to Mental Health Through Collaboration

NASP Congressional Briefing 2013: Rethinking School Safety: Schools and Communities Working Together • Preventative measures • Identify warning signs • Access to mental health • Overcome stigma • Teach the new “R” RESIL SILIENCE IENCE Nelba Marquez-Greene

Balance Physical and Psychological Safety

Physical Safety Psychological Safety Secure doors Trusting and Respectful Relationships Check in/out system Access to school employed mental health professionals Lighted hallways Continuum of support services Monitoring of School Grounds Mental Health First Aid Properly designed playgrounds Positive Discipline and sports fields Adult supervision in high traffic Anti-bullying initiatives areas School Resource Officer** Confidential Reporting System Threat Assessment Procedures Threat Assessment Procedures

Implement Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

MTSS as a Response to Intervention RtI BEHAVIOR RtI ACADEMIC SYSTEMS SYSTEMS Tier III: Comprehensive Tier III: Comprehensive & Intensive & Intensive Interventions Interventions Tier II: Strategic Tier II: Strategic Interventions - Target Interventions-Small Group Interventions – Group and/or Some At-Risk Students technology assisted instruction Tier I: Universal Tier I: Core Curriculum Interventions – All – All Students Students (PBS Tier I)

How to Advocate for Safe and Successful Schools

How can State Associations be an Effective Advocate 1. Educate your members about national, state & local priorities • Promote NASP Practice Model • Promote NASP advocacy and public policy updates in state newsletters • NASP display table at state convention • Link state webpage to NASP webpage • Social media 2. Strengthen your grassroots advocacy network • Create/enhance GPR/Legislative committees • Develop methods for rapid communication • Participate in StateTrack teamwork • Set a State Advocacy Plan and ADVOCATE!

How can I/my State Association be an Effective Advocate 3. Participate in Promotional Activities and Events • National School Psychology Awareness Week • School Psychology Resolutions • Public Awareness Campaigns 4. Build Relationships • Coalition partners (organizations) • Local/State Education Agency Leaders • Building Level Principals • District/County Safety Teams • Psychology Licensing Boards

How can I/my State Association be an Effective Advocate 5. Build your Advocacy Capacity • Participate in the 2015 GWU/NASP PPI • Hold a GPR state training • Sponsor advocacy sessions and activities at your state convention • Encourage members attending NASP convention to participate in advocacy sessions and activities • Consult State President about NASP 2015 Convention for state leaders Advocacy training Thursday. • Visit the NASP Advocacy Booth at NASP Convention • Develop a State Advocacy Plan. • Nominate outstanding advocates (external stakeholders and school psychologists) for GPR awards

State Association Advocacy Examples

California Advocacy Efforts

New York Advocacy Efforts

Keep the Conversation Going • Establish School Psychologists as the experts on the topic of school safety. 12/15/14 - WABC-TV New York, NY • NYASP President Andrew Livanis discusses the new report on the Sandy Hook shootings and what schools can do to help prevent future tragedies. • Offer comments, even when no one asks for them. • Keep a focused message and do not fall into ‘traps’ around school violence. • The panel also heard from Peter Faustino of the NY Association of School Psychologists. He called for increased access to mental health and support services for the 1 in 5 adolescents with mental health disorders.

Missouri Advocacy Efforts

Educate Others • Coordinated communication effort with districts, state associations, state agencies, and policy makers. • Building PREPaRE capacity • Partnership with Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education

GPR Panel Presenters: School Safety Dr. Kelly Vaillancourt, Director of Government Relations kvaillanourt@naspweb.org Dr. Katie Eklund, GPR Chair keklund@email.arizona.edu Dr. Peter Faustino pcfaustino@verizon.net Margaret A. Sedor margaretsedor@gmail.com Faith Zabek fzabek@gmail.com

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