SAP COUNTY COORDINATION UPDATE
December, 2014
www.sap.state.pa.us
Prepared by: PA Network for Student Assistance Services (PNSAS)
Pennsylvania Network for Student Assistance Services Interagency Update
Statewide SAP Surveys have been sent!
SAP Core Team surveys were sent to contacts who submitted SAP data at the end of last year. There is a letter to principal and the survey. This will help PNSAS be better connected to you by having your contact information and training needs. They can send latest issues of County Coordination Updates, updates on funding issues, and other relevant SAP information. This will help in planning any continuing education updates for SAP as well. Click here to go to the SAP website for a copy of the letters and surveys.
SAP Liaison surveys were sent to anyone who submitted the Joint Quarterly Reporting System in most recent quarter. This is to be completed and sent to your regional coordinator along with a copy of your letter of agreement with your schools.
Both surveys are due to your PNSAS Regional Coordinator by December 22, 2014.
Public Service Announcement Contest for High School Students!
Youth Suicide Prevention….. An Opportunity for Students to Join in the Conversation and Impact their Peers!
Pennsylvania Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative announces its Third Annual PSA Contest for Youth Suicide Prevention for high school students. Contest information, including official rules, application form, a downloadable flyer, and help with guiding students messaging. Deadline for submissions is January 16, 2015.
Check out previous winners (News and Events/Annual PSA Contest)
Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office for Safe Schools
School Climate Survey Pilot
The Pennsylvania Department of Education Office for Safe Schools (PDEOSS) is conducting a pilot program prior to full release of its online school climate surveys. PDEOSS is seeking 50-80 school entities to participate in the survey pilot.
The surveys included in the pilot are:
· Student Surveys in: Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
· Parent Survey
· Staff Survey
· Community Survey
The online surveys are intended to provide schools with formative and summative climate data for use with needs assessments, program development and short and long term planning by all stakeholders. The areas measured by the surveys include: teacher-student relations, student relations, teacher-home communications, respect for diversity, school safety, clarity of expectations and fairness of rules. A unique aspect of the survey will allow schools to customize the surveys to their needs by supplying an additional bank of survey questions that can become a part the climate survey process. Data analysis tools that can chart or graph survey results with drill down capability are also be available.
Survey pilot school participants are required to administer all existing surveys as a part of the pilot process. A sample of 20 or more participants will be required in each survey participant group within the school district in order to maintain pilot validity. The survey pilot cycle will begin on December 1, 2014 and will end on February 28, 2015. Chief School Administrators will need to name a point of contact for the survey pilot.
All surveys are available in Spanish as well as English. A printable version of the surveys is available online to pilot participants.
Upon completion of the survey pilot, schools will be able to obtain their data for analysis and planning. All survey data is the sole property of the school and will NOT be viewed or used by PDEOSS. Participating schools will be required to complete and submit a brief pilot participation form prior to the pilot and, upon completion
SAP Team Highlights
Looking for some fresh ideas for your SAP team? This section of the SAP County Coordination Update is for you! We want to feature what teams across the Commonwealth are doing in their efforts to reach students and families. What ways do you market your SAP team to students, staff, and the community? Does your SAP team sponsor any events in your school? Have you found an effective and creative way to engage parents and families? Share your ideas with SAP colleagues across Pennsylvania by contacting your regional coordinator (see the regional map and contacts here).
SAP BACK TO BASICS
Role of SAP Case Manager
“A Pennsylvania SAP case manager assures that referred students and families receive a positive 1:1 connection with at least one member of the school staff.”
How to assign a case manager?
Assigning a case manager should be a thoughtful task, taking into consideration, team member’s availability, rapport with the student, past experiences with the student and family, and needs of the student.
Each school has different strategies in assigning students a SAP case manager. Some schools evenly distribute cases based on number of students with which they are currently working, so as not to overload any team members. Some members with limited time might have fewer cases assigned to them. The team goes through a list of who on the team is due for a new referral to decide which case manager is assigned to a student. Most teams also take into consideration, which team member may know or work best with the student and family. Sometimes, a case manager is chosen because the SAP Team member does not know the student in order to have a new perspective with a student.
Now what?
The SAP case manager documents the identification of learning barriers and works collaboratively with the team, the student, the parents/caregivers, and school staff to generate data-driven action plans that are measureable and specific. Through solid communication and coordination with all stakeholders, action plans are regularly checked for progress by the case manager, and revised to attain goals. Case managers connect students and families with needed resources both in school and as needed in the community.
Essential roles and skills of a SAP case manager:
· Establish and maintain a working relationship with students and their parents/ guardians
· After gathering observable, verifiable information, they will create and maintain appropriate files for each SAP referred student
· Update the SAP team on student goals, progress and modifications
· Establish and maintain relationships with teachers, counselors, social workers, principals, and other school staff who work with the SAP referred student.
· Create, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of a student’s action plan and make modifications as necessary
· Connect with community resources other than the SAP liaison, using appropriate releases of information
· Assist with re-entry from inpatient and out of school provider agency
A sample “Case Manager Checklist” is available In the Additional Resources section (Click here).
Case manager and his/her critical role in re-entry:
Often a student’s reentry into the district occurs without prior notification and this can cause these students to “slip through the cracks”. With signed released in place, the case manager should stay in touch with the inpatient or out of school placement provider and whenever possible, be advised of that agency’s recommendations for successful re-integration back into school. It is important that the student is aware of supports within the school and knows how to access them. For some students, multiple interventions may be necessary. The SAP case manager may contact the parents and/or provider to determine ongoing needs and will be responsible to oversee the coordination of these interventions. The case manager needs to keep the whole team apprised as to the status of each case. The case manager can assure that students are accessing appropriate school and community supports.
(More information on re-entry will be available in the “Frequently Asked Questions” document on SAP website in the New Year.)
Please consider reviewing the role of the SAP case manager in your building to see if there is anything more they can do to enhance their existing services. A case mangers’ role is vital to the success of the SAP team in supporting our students.
RESOURCES
Engaging Youth and Young Adults through Social Media
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 | 1:00 PM - 1:55 PM EST
Social media continues to be an important tool for youth and young adults to connect with the world and with each other. Get the latest research and statistics on how youth and young adults are using social media, and how your organization can strategically use social media to engage with youth and young adults. Learn what platforms youth and young adults are using and how you can create a simple social media strategy to more effectively reach this audience. Click here to register.
Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center Resource Alerts (November 25, Prevention News Digest)
The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center's Resource Alerts are a brief document that provides short summaries and references to the most up-to-date research findings and other helpful information geared toward the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws community. These alerts provide information from the field on upcoming webinars, research findings, and other useful information of interest to practitioners interested in underage drinking prevention and enforcement. To read the latest Resource Alert, click here.
NCJRS Special Features Provide Online Resources for Internet and School Safety
The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) has launched two online special features:
· The Internet Safety Special Feature contains information on online safety for youth, Internet privacy, and cyberbullying and cyberstalking.
· The School Safety Special Feature provides information on the National Institute of Justice's Comprehensive School Safety Initiative plus resources on bullying, violence, and training associated with school safety.
Learn about the OJJDP-funded Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program. Read about the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention.
Bullying Prevention Awareness
The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance to schools reminding them that bullying is wrong and must not be tolerated – including against America’s 6.5 million students with disabilities. The Department issued guidance in the form of a letter to educators detailing public schools’ responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of Americans with Disabilities Act regarding the bullying of students with disabilities. If a student with a disability is being bullied, federal law requires schools to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate the issue and, as necessary, take steps to stop the bullying and prevent it from recurring.
The latest letter makes clear that the protections for students with disabilities who are bullied on any basis extend to the roughly three quarters of a million students who are not eligible for IDEA services but are entitled to services under the broader Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. That law bars discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Help is available for those who are either targets of disability bullying or know of someone who might be, such as:
· A fact sheet for parents on schools’ obligations under federal law to address bullying. The fact sheet is also available in Spanish.
· OCR has a guidance detailing public schools’ responsibilities regarding the bullying of students with disabilities in Spanish, click here.
· Visiting the federal Web site, www.stopbullying.gov, which provides useful information on bullying prevention and remedies.
· Asking to meet with the student’s team that designs his or her individualized education program – the IEP or Section 504 teams.
· Asking to meet with the principal or school district’s special education coordinators to have the school address bullying concerns.
· Seeking help from OCR. The office investigates complaints of disability discrimination at schools. To learn more about federal civil rights laws or how to file a complaint, contact OCR at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), . OCR’s Web site is www.ed.gov/ocr. Click here to fill out a complaint form online.
Above the Influence and iHeart Radio have teamed up for an exciting Instagram Contest Giveaway! Teens 13-18 can enter to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming Jingle Ball concert in: NYC, Miami, DC, or LA. With special guest host Nick Jonas, Jingle Ball’s star studded lineup includes: Taylor Swift, Pharell, Demi Lovato, Maroon 5, Jason Derulo, Fall Out Boy, Afrojack, Iggy Azalea, Jessie J, Calvin Harris and Ariana Grande to name a few.
Teens can enter the contest now by following these steps
1. Follow our Instagram account @abovetheinfluence
2. Take an original photo about what inspires you to be above the influence!
3. Tag it with hashtags #iHeartBeingAbove AND #NYCContestEntry (NY) or #MIAContestEntry (Miami) or #DCContestEntry (Washington DC) or #LAContestEntry (Los Angeles, CA)
4. Win 2 tickets to Jingle Ball 2014!
See official rules at:http://abovetheinfluence.com/jingleball/
If you have questions, please contact Sabrina Lee Sanchez @
TRAINIng Opportunities
The 2015 PASAP-PAMLE Conference will be held from February 22 through February 24, 2015 at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College, PA. This year will mark PASAP’s 25th and PAMLE’s 34th Annual Conferences.
In the spirit of collaboration and joint mission, PASAP and PAMLE have continued to partner to provide a phenomenal professional development opportunity. This conference again promises to be one of our most exciting and rewarding with keynote and workshop presentations focusing on the current and key issues that face our youth today. We continue to strive to deliver meaningful, skill and prevention based professional development opportunities that will provide participants with the tools to, in turn, affect student learning, achievement, and life success. For more information about eh conference click here.
SAVE THE DATE
Do Something Remarkable
April 8-9, 2015.
Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey Hotel,
Harrisburg, PA
Sponsored by Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services.
Deadline for presentation proposals is September 15, 2014.
For further information go to http://pccyfs.org/Spring_Conf.html
NEWS
Pennsylvania Passes New Youth Suicide Prevention Bill
On June 26, 2014, Governor Corbett signed Act 71 into law. This bill codifies school-based suicide prevention and
requires school entities to adopt an age-appropriate youth suicide awareness and prevention policy, and provide training in youth suicide awareness and prevention to professional educators in grades 6-12. It also requires the Department of Education to develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention policy, develop a model youth suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and make it available to all school entities, and compile, develop, and post online guidelines and materials for training educators and resources and age-appropriate educational material. The Act also includes requirements related to child exploitation awareness education. The PA Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative supported this bill and will continue to work with the Department of Education to assist in developing youth suicide awareness and prevention curriculum and providing other related resources. The complete text of the bill is available at http://tiny.cc/p4cgjx