“Checkered Flags” Everyone’s Responsibility
Student Support Leadership Initiative
The Student Support Leadership Initiative was created through a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services in February 2008. This initiative was developed to foster leadership within and across school boards and community agencies to enhance local partnerships to better meet the needs of students and families through collaborative planning, coordination and referrals. This initiative was in response to changes to the safe school provisions of the Education Act and is in line with A Shared Responsibility, Ontario’s Policy Framework for Child and Youth Mental Health.
The goals identified by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services are:
- Improved understanding
- Improved joint decision-making processes
- Improved access to existing services/supports for students and their families
The Steering Committee wanted to help share expertise, maximize local resources, and develop a tool that would support collaboration and joint planning. The working sub-committee was established to develop the “Checkered Flags” guidebook that could be used with agencies and schools within the eight eastern counties of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, and Prescott-Russell.
The guidebook“Checkered Flags” Everyone’s Responsibility is designed to assist professionals in responding effectively to the students that we all care about, to promote a collaborative approach within our community and to increase the level of awareness and access to effective supports and services.
Steering Committee
Dr. Donaleen Hawes, Superintendent CDSBEO, LeadSchool Board
Wayne Kyte, Director, Laurencrest Youth Services Inc., Cluster Lead
Susan Edwards, Superintendent UCDSB
Ted Kennedy, Superintendent UCDSB
Tom Jordan, Principal of Special Education CDSBEO
Robert Pickens, Executive Director, Family Children’s Services of Leeds and Grenville
Nicki Collins, Executive Director, Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth
Deena Shorkey, Manager, Children’s Mental Health Programs, CornwallCommunityHospital
Marg Fancy, EKIOC, Jane Torrance, Lanark Planning Council
Helene Fournier, Service Director, INTEGRA for Children and Adults of Prescott-Russell
Checkered Flags Working Committee
Kathy O’Brien, Leeds and Grenville Student Support Leadership Initiative Consultant
Jane Torrance, Community Coordinator, LanarkCounty Planning Council for Children, Youth and Families
Sue Giff, Behaviour Crisis Consultant, CDSBEO
Wayne Kyte, Executive Director, Laurencrest Youth Services Inc. Cornwall
Helen Lalonde, UpperCanadaDistrictSchool Board
Cindy Leach, Outreach Program,CornwallCommunityHospital
Amber McCart, Manager of Programs and Services, Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth
Rocci Pagnello, Family & Children’s Services of Leeds and Grenville
Thank you to the many individuals who have contributed to the writing of this guidebook.