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Alton School District & Wellspring Resources -

Alton School District & Wellspring Resources -. Melinda Pacheco – School Based Mental Health Specialist, Alton Middle School Sandy Crawford - Project Director, Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. Four year Federal grant- 5 target areas. Core Management Team

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Alton School District & Wellspring Resources -

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  1. Alton School District & Wellspring Resources - • Melinda Pacheco – School Based Mental Health Specialist, Alton Middle School • Sandy Crawford - Project Director, Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative

  2. Four year Federal grant- 5 target areas. • Core Management Team • Required Partners: Law Enforcement, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health (Wellspring Resources) – expanded over time

  3. SMH Goals To decrease problem behavior/emotional barriers to learning, and increase academic achievement for students . Early identification and intervention to resolve problems for children and their families To assist parents, teachers, and counselors in meeting daily needs of students To develop systems of support within the school and community to resolve problems

  4. Illinois Related Initiatives Social Emotional Learning Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Mental Health Restorative Justice • Crisis counseling • Individual support teams/plans • Psychiatric care • Group counseling/support groups • Staff & family • Coordinated referral process/progress monitoring • Mental Health screening • Prevention/Wellness promotion • Individual social skills instruction • Targeted social skills instruction • SEL curriculum • School climate assessment • Family group conferencing • Community conferencing • Peer Jury • Conferencing • Problem-solving circles • Circles • Restorative chats • Wraparound • Complex FBA/BIP • Individual planning • Brief FBA/BIP • Check-in/out • Check/Connect • Social academic instructional groups • School-wide behavior expectations • Acknowledge positive behaviors • Data-based planning

  5. School-Based Services Framework Mental Health / Substance Abuse Services Juvenile Justice Law Enforcement Social Services/SSW Child and Family Recreational Extra-curr. Services Educational Services Early Childhood/ Parenting Health Services After-School Programs

  6. SMH Best Practice: Programs Include: MH Clinician placed in 1 school providing prevention, early intervention and intensive MH services • Mental Health Services – 80% • Individual Counseling • Family Counseling • Group Counseling • Crisis Intervention, Screening and Assessment Services (SASS) • Case management • Teacher/Staff Consultation • Early Intervention & Prevention Services – 20% • Staff In-Service Workshops • Classroom Education groups • Parent workshops & support groups • Violence prevention • In-school suspension counseling

  7. Best Practice - What Works? • SMH placed at 1 school 5 days per week providing comprehensive services • SMH becomes part of full “school team” • Daily contact between SMH and school administrative/ staff • Referrals to SMH from school intervention team, parents and youth

  8. Best Practice - What Works? • Confidentiality agreements between parents, youth, school, service agencies and organizations • All services provided with parental permission • School/Community Intervention Team helps plan comprehensive SMH program

  9. WHY IT WORKS • True Partnerships Formed w/Schools • Close liaison with school staff • Earlier intervention • Comprehensive programs designed to fit needs of school population • Education on MH/ATOD issues • Commitment to cost-share funding

  10. WHY IT WORKS • True Partnerships Formed with Students & Families • Parent/Youth voice for program planning • Students view MHC another school counselor • Parent/Youth appointments on site at school • No appointment needed for emergencies, parental concerns, teacher/staff consultation • No stigma for child and family

  11. How parents and youth benefit • Parents : • Non-stigmatizing • Easy access • Eliminate problems w/ transportation • Access to teacher & student support team • Crises Episodes handled immediately • Students : • Normalizes school experience for student’s w/MH diagnosis • Attend groups w/peers • Support network at school • Family involvement more frequent

  12. Benefits to Partnerships • Systems communication/ familiarity • Joint problem solving (wrap) • Cross Training • Find new ways to collaborate • Avoid duplication of effort/services • Coordination of resources • Positioning for funding

  13. Challenges to Partnerships • Time Constraints • Resources, fragmented funds • Turnover in leadership, staff • History/past turf experiences • Language/jargon/legal differences • Differing missions/perspectives

  14. Sustaining Partnerships

  15. State Agency Directors CMT Youth Advocacy Groups SS/HS Mental Health Programs Community Partners Parents Local Businesses/ Coalitions School District City/ County Councils Faith Based Partnerships can grow…

  16. Funding SMH • School districts/partners/govt. • Title I,PBIS, IDEA • District & school budgets • partner organizations/special taxes (Health,Prevention) • Realign staff to provide various SMH functions • Function vs. positions, rethink staff roles and determine functions to provide • Interns (master level), volunteers (mentors)

  17. Partnership Strategies • Review protocols, procedures, trainings, and policies • Meet with administrative & support staff regularly. Clarify roles. • Review program at least once a year or if aligned to student outcomes, every semester • Communicate and celebrate positive outcome data. Feedback to referral sources

  18. Melinda Pacheco, MSW • School Based Mental Health Specialist, Alton Middle School/Wellspring Resources 2615 Edwards St. Alton, IL 62002 (618) 462-2331 mpacheco@altonschools.org mpacheco@wellspringsresources.co

  19. Sandy Crawford, MSW Project Director, Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative Alton Community Unit School District # 11 2512 Amelia St. Alton, IL  62002 (618)433-4907 scrawford@altonschools.org

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