February 15, 2012
To: / Board of Trustees
From: / Cory Gray, Superintendent of Schools
Subject: / Family School Liaison Program
Originator: / Ramona Munkler, Family School Liaison Coordinator
RECOMMENDATION
That the Board receive a report of activities and information on the Family School Liaison Program in GYPSD.
REPORT
At the present time there are9 Family School Liaisons working in 16 schools and TLC in Edson, Hinton and Grande Cache with 2 contracted FSLs/Youth in workers in Jasper, offering counseling and behavioral support to students and staff.As a result of a vacant position in the Edsonarea from September to Jan 2012 by Ashley Riendeau who went on to pursue her B.S.W. full time, Marilyn, John, and Michelle were asked to spread themselves thin to cover those schools. Although several attempts had been made to fill that position it remained empty until January 3, 2012 when Tracey Schwartz was hired.
Grande Yellowhead Public School Division schools are supported by the following FSLs:
Edson
Michelle Barron …Parkland Composite High School
John Heffernan … TLC Edson, Niton Central, Fulham School
Marilyn Dudinsky … Pine Grove Middle School
Tracey Schwartz … Westaven, Evergreen, Dakin
Hinton
Crystal Virtanen … Harry Collinge High School
Cathy Saunders … Crescent Valley, TLC Hinton
Rachelle Slavik … Mountain View School
Grande Cache
Amanda MacDougall… Sheldon Coates,Summitview, Grande Cache Commuity High School
Lobstick
Leann Russell … Grand Trunk High School, Evansview and Wildwood
Jasper (contracted service)
Anna DeClercq…Jasper Jr. / Sr. High School
Carla Gallop … Jasper Elementary School
The Family School Liaisons expertise range from therapeutic counseling, addictions and substance abuse, behavior modification and crisis intervention to physical, sexual, emotional abuse and Youth Justice / Criminal Justice and now Life Space Crisis Intervention.
As always the work or support of the Family School Liaison is “child centered” meaning the focus is the child, placing the needs of the child at the center of every action. With the new tools that FSLs were given in the LSCI training it will become easier to identify those needs, using the child’s strength and resiliency to power forward to success!
Family School Liaisons are often the first called upon to make available grief counseling and support for our schools. There have also been opportunities when the FSLs provide skilled debriefing and counseling, at a time of a traumatic event or tragedy that impacts students and staff in our schools. It would be misleading to say that the people on these teams are not affected by the raw emotion of children and adults. For this reason, not all FSLs are required to participate in the grief counseling support offered to schools. FSLs are asked to volunteer.
While trying to explain to a student one day what I do, it occurred to me that FSLs have not done themselves justice by giving the pat answer, “we help kids in school”. It isn’t as simple as that, it is a circle. Each child (student) needs to feel safe to grow and learn(belonging), there by free to challenge and make mistakes without fear or shame(mastery), becoming independent and free to learn(independence), sharing new found knowledge and skills with others(generosity) – the Circle of Courage The Family School Liaisons help kids to learn!
Family School Liaison Service Level Report
Edson School
Parkland Composite High School:FSL:Michelle Barron
Caseload27 active files1:1 – 75%vs. group / programs – 5%
Casework management – 20%
Programs /activities beyond direct student service:
S.A.D.D (advisor)
Bullying Prevention Programs (Pink Pancake Day, PAY IT FORWARD!)
Addictions and Substance Abuse Awareness
Case conferences, “LINKS”, Threat Assessments, referrals and collaboration with Child and Family Services, Mental Health and Addictions, Probation, R.C.M.P. grief counseling
Concerning and pervasive issues:
Domestic violence, parent/ child conflict, independent students (no support from home or agencies), relationship difficulties, suicide risk, self harm
Ecole Pine Grove School:FSL: Marilyn Dudinski
Caseload: 32 active files1:1 – 50%vs.group/programs – 0 at this time
Casework management 50%
Programs/activities beyond direct student service:
Case conferences, admin.meetings, communication with outside agencies: Mental Health and Addictions, Family and Children Services, Family First ( in home support)
Concerning and pervasive issues: domestic violence, anxiety, trauma, suicidal behaviors, self harm, aggressive behaviors at school, relationship difficulties
A.H. Dakin SchoolFSL Tracey Schwartz (new)
Evergreen School
Westhaven School
Numbers are not accurate enough to report due to position not being filled until
January 2012
Programs/activities beyond direct student service
Fulham (8)FSL John Heffernen
Niton School (5)
TLC (11)
Caseload:30 active files1:1 – 50%vs.group/programs – 15%
Casework management – 25%travel – 10%
Programs/activities beyond direct student services:
Case conferences, IPP meetings, staff meetings, communication with outside agencies: Mental Health, Children’s Services, grief counseling
Concerning and pervasive issues: attendance, aggressive behaviors at school, parental neglect, depression, suicide risk.
Hinton Schools
Harry Collinge HighFSLCrystalVirtanen
Caseload: 42 active files1:1 – 70%vs. group/programs – 20%
Casework management 10%
Programs /activities beyond direct student services:
Case conferences, Threat Assessments,
Learning Support/ Admin meetings
Hinton Drug Action Committee
Attendance Board Hearings
Communication with outside agencies
Concerning and pervasive issues: suicide risk, attendance, relationship difficulties, teen pregnancies, conflict with parents, aggressive behaviors.
Ecole Mountain View SchoolFSL Rachelle Slavic
Caseload: 27 active files
71 Roots of Empathy
21 Rainbows1:1 – 30%vs. group/programs – 50%
Casework management 20%
Programs/activities beyond direct student services:
Rainbows/Spectrum
Roots of Empathy
Lunches and clothing for students, inter-agency meetings, case conferencing,
Concerning and pervasive issues: domestic violence, grief and loss, separation and divorce, safety, neglect.
Crescent Valley School
TLC FSL Cathy Saunders
Caseload: 48 active files
10 Rainbows1:1 – 30% vs. group/programs - 40%
Casework management 30%
Programs / activities beyond direct student services:
Girls group
Cyber Bullying presentation
Case conference, Attendance Board Hearings, IPP meetings, communication with outside agencies Mental Health, Children’s Services,
Concerning and pervasive issues: Grief and loss, separation and divorce, safety, neglect.
Grande Cache SchoolsFSLAmanda MacDougal
GrandeCacheHigh School
Caseload: 13 active files1:1 – 25%vs. group/programs – 0%
Casework management 15%
SummitviewSchool:
Caseload: 9 active files1:1 – 25% vs. group / programs – 0%
Casework management 15%
SheldonCoatesSchool
Caseload 4 active files1:1 – 10% vs. group/programs – 0%
Casework management 10%
Programs/ activities beyond direct student services:
Anti- Bullying Campaign
P.A.R.T.Y. Program
Case conferences, Inter-Agency meetings, Staff meetings, Community Outreach Program
Concerning and pervasive issues: Relationship difficulties, attendance, disruptive behaviors, suicidal behaviors, mental health disorders
Lobstick SchoolsFSL Leann Russell
Grand Trunk
Caseload 13 active files1:1 – 20% vs. group / programs – 0%
Casework management 10%
Evansveiw
Caseload 11 active files1:1 – 15% vs. group / programs – 0%
Casework management 5 %
Wildwood
Caseload 22 active files1:1 - 20%vs. group / programs – 0%
Travel 10%
Concerning and pervasive issues: Relationship difficulties, attendance, disruptive behaviors, suicidal behaviors, mental health and addictions, family violence.
Programs / activities beyond direct student services
Case conferences,
Admin meetings
Attendance Board Hearings
Communication with outside agencies