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Interventions and Resources for At-Risk Students
- 1. Interventions and Resources for At-Risk Students Dorann Tanner, LGSW, C-SSWS Social Worker Shelby County Schools Student Services
- 2. What makes a student at-risk? Students who are not experiencing school success and are in danger of school failure and/or non-completion The Alabama State Department of Education recognizes that students may be at-risk due to situations, circumstances, and /or conditions (e.g., environment, family, health) over which they may have limited control
- 3. What makes a student at-risk? Key observable indicators may be, but are not limited to, the following: More than eight days absent Two or more out of school suspensions Number of core class failures (over-age and under credited) Drug or alcohol use Family dynamics
- 4. Why do we need to intervene? Alabama’s high school graduation rate 61.3% - 43 rd in the nation Alabama Adults in 2000 1 in 4 did not have a high school diploma Alabama’s 2007 dropouts an additional $6.7 billion earned in their lifetimes had they graduated
- 5. Shelby County Facts: 27,115 students enrolled in 2008-2009 5th largest school system in the state Largest ESL population in AL 89% Graduation Rate Early Warning & Supporting Families Initiative (SFI) programs implemented to help identify and intervene with at-risk students Proactive programs: school social worker, alternative academic settings, and curriculum interventions
- 6. Early Warning Process EARLY WARNING Conduct Flow Chart In or Out of School Suspension After 3 suspensions, EW referral is made First EW Referral 2 nd Conduct Referral Agency Meeting 3 rd Referral SFI Consult DA’s Office for Possible Parental Prosecution
- 7. Early Warning Process Early Warning Truancy Flow Chart After 5 th 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
- 8. Early Warning Court Truancy referrals are submitted after the 5th unexcused absence and after the local school has followed code of conduct guidelines Conduct referrals are submitted after the local school has exhausted all discipline procedures as outlined in the code of conduct Referral is screened and forwarded to Intake at Juvenile Court
- 9. Early Warning Court: Held weekly at Shelby County Courthouse before presiding Juvenile Court Judge Jim Kramer Informal court session in which Judge Kramer explains school code of conduct and state law regarding student and parental responsibility of school attendance and conduct Attended by parent/guardian, child (if age appropriate), JPO, BOE, and DA
- 10. Agency Meeting: Held if referral is received after Early Warning Court Held at Shelby County Juvenile Probation Office Includes Family (and child), JPO, BOE, DHR and Shelby County’s Children’s Policy Council Coordinator Round table discussion on why the behavior is continuing and resources/suggestions to help the family
- 11. Supporting Families Initiative In 2008, in response to the changes in the Juvenile Code of Alabama, Shelby County Schools partnered with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office and the Juvenile Court to implement Supporting Families Initiative If an additional referral is received after Early Warning Court and agency meeting, the student may by referred to SFI
- 12. Supporting Families Initiative Social Worker contacts family and completes a home visit and North Carolina Family Assessment Social Worker arranges a case staffing with community agencies to develop a Family Plan of Action Social Worker and Juvenile Court meets with family to implement Family Plan of Action Social Worker follows up with family
- 13. Supporting Families Initiative SFI works with the Early Warning System to provide intensive intervention for at-risk students SFI interventions are designed for the family, not just the problem student In 2008-2009, 401 referrals to Early Warning and 17 SFI referrals were processed in Shelby County Schools
- 14. SFI Community Partners: Parent Project Spirit of Hope Gateway Counseling Family Connections DAY Program Shelby County Family Resource Center Bradford Health System JPO, DHR, DA
- 15. Shelby County Schools In addition to the Early Warning system, Shelby County also employees a School Social Worker to proactively help at-risk students School Social Worker is based out of Student Services at the Board of Education to serve all schools in the system
- 16. What School Social Workers do: Provide support, referral, & follow-up Assist personnel to establish and implement a plan of action for at-risk students Assist in obtaining social and/or health services for children Work with agencies in the development and implementation of family intervention Conduct home visits as a liaison between school and home Assist with crisis prevention and intervention as needed Serve as an advisor concerning assigned program of intervention
- 17. Why are they needed? Assist in improving education of students Assist school administration and counselors with at-risk students Intervene with families, not just the student Advocate for students and their families Provide various resources to improve family relationships Provide the link among school, home, community
- 18. State Facts: Total of 131 School Systems and 1,538 schools 34 systems and 37 schools have Social Workers (25% of the school systems) Many schools in Alabama hire SW as graduation coaches Approximately 90 School Social Workers Less than 5 Certified School Social Workers in the State Social workers may be funded by grants including Title I, At-Risk, Children’s First and local school funds
- 19. Alternative Academic Settings: The SUCCESS Program-provides students an opportunity for credit recovery and vocational/career development The Shelby County Alternative School-provides leadership instruction and behavior modification The DAY Program-provides credit recovery and therapeutic behavior modification for grades 7 th – 11 th
- 20. Curriculum Interventions: Life Skills Stay on Track Character Education DARE Too Good for Drugs Red Ribbon Week STAR
- 21. Curriculum Interventions: Homework assistance Tutoring STEP Program for pregnant teens/fathers Freshman Forum High School 101 Teen Driving Initiative School Guidance Counselors
- 22. Additional Resources: Children’s Policy Council Multi-Disciplinary Teams Juvenile Court United Way Agencies- Dial 211 PAL’s Phone line- 1-866-962-3030 Crisis Center Hot Line- 1-800-999-9999 Alabama Mental Health Referral- 1-800-367-0955 Alabama Guide to Family and Community Service www.optionsforhope.net
- 23. Contact Information Dorann Tanner Social Worker Shelby County Schools Student Services Department 205-682-7187 [email_address]