Team Decision Making Meeting Tip Sheet for School Site Staff
This sheet is designed to give school site staff some quick tips about preparing for a Team Decision Making (TDM) meeting through the Human Services Agency (HSA).
What is a TDM?
A TDM is a meeting that brings together families and people involved with children in and out of foster care when there are serious safety issues that could result in the minor being placed in out-of-home care, require there be a change in the current placement, or a need to devise a plan to preserve an unstable placement.
Who attends TDMs?
Parents/immediate and extended family members and kin, HSA social worker, facilitator, family support system, community based organizations, placement providers, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), student support and/or school site staff, the minor, and attorneys can be in attendance.
What is a school district staff’s role?
School staff are invited to provide updates on how the student is doing in school and to strategize interventions in school that may support the current home placement or provide stability during a transition to a new home and/or school. School staff are there to support in the decision making process of whether the student shall remain in their school of origin for the remainder of the school year. Additionally, school staff are encouraged to advocate that the chosen school placement is in the best interest of the student’s academic needs.
Preparing for the TDM
A TDM can be scheduled with very short notice, so please gather as much info as time permits.
1. If time permits due to the short notice, try to obtain more information from the social worker of why the TDM is being called.
2. Bring the following documents to the TDM:
a. Attendance, report card, transcripts, IEP if applicable, and any info on discipline history
b. List of permanency supports identified in FYS Liaison intake form.
3. Get any updates from teachers, counselors, nurse, or other school staff on how the student is doing. Invite other school staff that you feel would be appropriate to attend, including potential permanency supports.
In the TDM
1. Participate in providing both strengths at the beginning of the meeting and concerns of the student and the parent/caregiver.
2. Inform the TDM participants of the student’s progress, including current and past interventions, and resources available for the student to access such as tutoring, after school programs, etc.
3. Strategize school site interventions to support the student to remain in the home placement or during the transition to the new home and/or school.
4. Identify potential permanent connections that could support the student’s school of origin and/or provide ongoing support.
5. If the child will need to change home placements, please advise the social worker on completing the SFUSD Change of Address form and have them fax it to FYS along with a placement agreement or a letter on HSA letterhead stating the name, address, and contact information of the new caregiver.
After the TDM
1. Follow up on any action items created during the TDM.
2. Follow up on any school-based permanent connections discussed; if additional support is needed, please contact Permanency Consultants.
3. If transferring schools is in the best interest of the student, remind the social worker to complete the HSA 1144 and 1145 forms which can be found at any HSA location and send it to the corresponding Foster Youth Services programs.
4. Record attendance on FYS Exit Form at the end of the school year or upon exiting the school
5. If the educational surrogate is not in attendance, please make sure that a team member is designated to follow up with the surrogate. Please note school staff cannot be a surrogate.
If you need any assistance with the TDM process, please contact Shira Andron at 415-242-2615 x3055 or .
Attachments: Change of Address Form