Social Emotional Wellness for All Children Westchester Putnam School Boards Association October 13, 2016 Panel Discussion and District Presentations
Panel Discussion Michael Orth, Deputy Commissioner of Community Mental Health - Westchester County Jan Fisher, Director of Public Affairs – Westchester Jewish Community Services John McCabe, Lower Hudson Regional Special Education – TASC Arlene Seymour, Program Director, Putnam Family and Community Services
School District Presentations: 1. Valhalla UFSD 2. Scarsdale UFSD 3. Ossining UFSD 4. Byram Hills CSD 5. Peekskill City UFSD 6. Briarcliff Manor UFSD 7. Pelham UFSD
Social Emotional Wellness for All Children How do we know about the social emotional health of our students ? Let's ask them… Valhalla UFSD Dr. Brenda Myers, Superintendent
How do we know about the social emotional health of our students? Let's ask them. Presented by: Dr. Brenda Myers
Strong Protective Factors Relationships at School • Pro-Social culture Agree Q. What are the chances you would be seen 70% as cool if you defend someone who is verbally abused at school?
Strong Protective Factors • Strong connection to teachers. Yes Q. There are lots of chances for students in 92% my school to talk with a teacher one on one.
Strong Protective Factors • Engagement in Class and Activities Yes Q. There are lots of chances for students 97% in my school to get involved in school activities outside of class.
Risks • Depression and anxiety 35% • Disconnected from school-hate being often/always - 25% in school • How often have you been threatened 6 or more times – 18 students or harassed over the internet, by 2 or more times – 37 students email or by someone using a cellphone?
Low Commitment to School Q, How often do you feel that the school Never / Seldom 24% work you are assigned is meaningful and important? Q. How important do you thing the things Slightly/ Not Important you are learning in school are going to 16-33% be for you later in life?
Low Commitment to School Slightly/ Q. How interesting are most of your Not at All 15-30% courses to you? Q. In my school, students have lots of No chances to help decide things like 45% class activities and rules.
Building Learning Opportunities with Voice, Choice, Agency and Audience • Flex Clubs • Instructional Strategies Liaisons (ISL) • STEAM Facilitator
Social Emotional Wellness for All Children Youth Services Project – A Long Standing Collaborative Approach Scarsdale UFSD Eric Rauschenbach, Director of Special Education and Students Services
The Scarsdale Community Youth Service Project: Leveraging Community and School Services Scarsdale UFSD, The Village of Scarsdale and Scarsdale Family Counseling
Major Goals of the CYSP Prevention of negative social and emotional outcomes for the youth of Scarsdale through: • Social-emotional support, counseling and crisis intervention in the Middle and High Schools • Leadership development for young people in the Scarsdale community to develop pro-social activities • Support groups for parents of preadolescent and adolescent children
Major Programs • Young Men and Young Woman in Leadership: After school single sex groups of identified middle school aged students focusing on bullying, substance use, healthy relationships and the pressures of adolescent social life. • Women in Leadership: Support group for 14-18 year old women looking to make friends, improve confidence and connect with peers to make positive choices.
Major Programs Continued • Parenting Support Groups: Preadolescent and adolescent parenting groups focused on giving parents the skills and confidence to parent in positive ways. Beyond the Basics groups focus on parents of children with disabilities. • School Based Counseling and Crisis Intervention: Five Youth Outreach Workers engage in regular counseling for students, collaborate with administrators and teachers, and offer family systems therapy when appropriate. Social Workers are often called in to intervene when students are having difficulty socially or behaviorally.
Long Standing Benefits • Arrangement allows for a greater range of services than typically provided by District employed Social Workers • Parenting groups provide a conduit of information about community issues and parenting trends • Leadership programs provide a wider variety of interventions for students having behavioral and social difficulty. • SFC is a non-profit and can offer private counseling for families outside of school allowing for confidentiality and affordability.
Memorandum of Understanding and Cost Structure • Joint collaboration between the Village Board of Trustees, The Board of Education and Scarsdale Family Counseling • Agreement covers the cost of five social workers who work during school hours at the middle and high schools, run parenting groups and the leadership opportunities for identified district students • Full cost of the contract is $470,000 split equally between the Village and District
Social Emotional Wellness for All Children The Ossining Basics Ossining UFSD Ray Sanchez Superintendent
The Ossining Basics The Ossining Basics are five evidence-based parenting and caregiving principles that encompass much of what experts find is important for children from birth to age three. Every child from every background can benefit from routinely experiencing these learning experiences. https://youtu.be/7LGSjUi9w8k
Social Emotional Wellness for All Children Flexible Support Program - Partnering with Univ. of Michigan Depression Ctr. Byram Hills CSD Christopher Walsh Principal, Byram Hills High Schoo l
Byram Hills High School - Partnership with the University of Michigan Depression Center Christopher Walsh – BHHS Principal
Student Need: Over the last eight years, we noticed an increase in the number of students who could not access the curriculum due to significant difficulties with stress, anxiety, and other emotional issues. Students lost credit or would have to be outplaced. School avoidance: Extended absences Cutting class Lack of engagement Social isolation
Flexibility: There was great frustration that we were not equipped to adequately address our students’ needs. BOE policies were very clear about attendance and course credit but were not very flexible. We felt that if we could get students into the building, we would have a chance at helping them. In order for the program to work, it would have to operate outside of the standard operating procedures of the rest of the school.
Outside Support/Funding: At the same time the program was being proposed, a community member reached out to offer financial support. He was a University of Michigan alumnus and was interested in helping us connect our ideas to the work of the University of Michigan Depression Center. Provided funding for the center to train our staff in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and offered continual support during the initial phase of the program.
Initial Staffing & Enrollment: 1 FTE School Psychologist 1 FTE Special Education Teacher .4 FTE Guidance Counselor Full Time Aide Initial Cost: $245,000 (2012-2013) Part of the library was modified to act as the FSP suite. ($30,000) Enrollment: 17 Students (3 returning from OOD) University of Michigan Depression Center Personnel Training: $500,000
Benefits: To date, 75 students have been part of the program. Program also serves as a “step down” for students returning from extended illness or hospitalization. Students are scheduled into the program similar to the way it is done for Resource Room. Students can access the space at any time during the day. Students are not marked absent from their class if they are accessing the program. Longitudinal studies show student growth in: attendance, academic achievement, and conduct.
Future Plans: Increase the number of out of district students. Continue to work with the University of Michigan Depression Center for updated techniques. Develop a system for identifying the students earlier and pilot the program at our middle school. Determine the effect that decreasing enrollment would have on the program.
Social Emotional Wellness for All Children Student & Family Support: Margaret's Place Peekskill City SD Dr. David Fine Superintendent
A Community Focused on Every Student; Every Day Dr. David Fine, Superintendent
Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) Andrus; TAC-D TSTT/Power of Peace Boys/Girl Scouts Sanctuary Movement class-Crossover Yoga Project Community Agencies (i.e. youth bureau, etc)
Administered through WJCS In Partnership with The Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation
Provide education and support services across school community to prevent interpersonal violence, intervene in the cycle of domestic violence and promote healthy relationships “Safe Rooms” within schools for students to discuss violence - related issues with a professional counselor
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