School Social Work Now!

Supporting Innovative Practice, Effective

Leadership & Applied Research 

Secondary Prevention: Tier 2 in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Framework     

. . . Secondary interventions rest on the first level of primary prevention, school-wide and classroom systems. Without school-wide prevention, we can't reliably identify students in need of targeted interventions. These tier 1 systems must be in place and used consistently and with fidelity by all staff.  

Interventions from tier 2 of the framework can be effective in working with this at-risk group of students. Approximately 10-15% of students will respond to the targeted group interventions. Tier 2 small group interventions are strategies and procedures put into place to support a group of students who display similar needs or deficits as identified through the data. See a small list of interventions by clicking here.

Critical Social Work: Considerations and Suggestions     

  
Ethical Leadership Based on the NASW Code of Ethics  

Supporting Positive Relationships in Families Where Fathers Suffer with Mental Distress    

Many men who suffer from mental distress are also fathers. This article provides a review of the research literature that addresses both the positive and negative impacts of paternal mental distress on children. Recommendations for changes in research agendas, as well as changes in practice policies are made based on these findings.

This article is based on a report commissioned by the Public Health Agency of Canada which provided an international integrative review (Harrigan, Ratliffe, Patrinos, & Tse, 2002; Klunklin & Harrigan, 2002; Whitemore & Knafl, 2005) of the literature on fathers and mental distress from four countries: Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA) (LeFrançois, 2009). Although many of the research articles include both mothers and fathers as participants, this article focuses primarily on the issues relating to fathers.  Click here to continue.

Panel Backs Maine Bill to Avoid Expulsions from School   

Maine school districts would no longer be allowed to expel students without giving them a time line or plan for returning to class, under a bill endorsed by a legislative committee Tuesday.  If the bill passes, districts also will have to rewrite discipline and truancy policies to more aggressively keep students out of trouble and in class.  Read more.

A Specialist's Debate on Autism Has Many Worried Observers

A debate among medical professionals over how to define autism has spilled over into the public domain, stirring anger and fear among many parents and advocates of those with the neurological disorder, even as some argue that the diagnosis has been too loosely applied....  The proposed revisions, which would take effect in 2013, are likely to have practical implications for those who would once have qualified for services that experts say can improve an individual's abilities to socialize, learn and ultimately live independently. But they have also ignited a broad discussion over the value of a diagnosis for behavior differences, and how to fairly apportion services at a time when resources are shrinking... Over the last decade, the number of 6- to 21-year-olds with autism in public schools has quadrupled, according to the Department of Education. Such students may get private school placement, a classroom aide or curriculum adaptations. In recent years, 29 states have passed laws requiring insurance companies to provide behavioral therapies and other forms of care to people with an autism diagnosis.  Complete article.  Related article.   

Why It Makes Sense to Redefine Autism    

"Will my child still qualify for a diagnosis of autism?" This is the question on the minds of many parents with children who have autism. The short answer is: Most likely, yes. As an expert panel considers changing the definition of autism in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, parents are expressing concerns about what this will mean. The new, more restrictive criteria will combine three subgroups on the autism spectrum into one category and require a child to display more pronounced symptoms to qualify for a diagnosis. The effect may be that it would be harder for some mildly affected children to qualify for insurance to cover therapeutic and educational support services. In the face of changing eligibility, support for children who function at the higher end of the spectrum will not be diminished. ... One positive outcome of revising the criteria could be an impetus for the development of more targeted services and therapies that can better serve the needs of children across the autism spectrum. For children with Asperger's syndrome, this might include therapy directed at improving their social interactions and daily living skills. For those with a more severe form of autistic disorder, it could mean therapy for management of problematic behaviors. Insurance companies will be motivated to reimburse for therapy that can demonstrate improvement in functioning, and a more targeted approach has a better chance of achieving this goal.  Learn more.  
        

Bibliotherapy & School Social Workers

I am a doctoral student at Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Science, River Forest, Illinois. I am seeking school social workers to complete an online survey about bibliotherapy for use towards research for a doctoral dissertation. For the purposes of this research bibliotherapy is defined as the use of books or other reading materials (poetry, magazines, comic books, etc) to assist with the counseling process.  Participation is voluntary, confidential and anonymous.  Even if you do not currently use the bibliotherapy counseling technique, any feedback on this topic will help with this study. Completion of the survey should take approximately 30 minutes and can be done from any computer with internet access.  If you are an interested school social worker, or know of a school social worker who would be interested, the survey link is below.  For more information, contact: Elizabeth Garcia, Doctoral Student, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Dominican University. Thank you in advance for your participation.  Bibliotherapy Survey Link.  

New this week:  Cedar Knolls, NJ    Dolton, IL    Haddonfield, NJ   

               Kansas City, MO                                            

Search Tool Helps Users Find Grants to Fund Youth Programs 

The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs has created an online Web Tool that allows users to search for federal grant opportunities by youth topic or federal agency. The tool uses a filter to search for grants that are likely to fund youth programs. To learn more and determine if you are eligible, click here.

ING Unsung Heroes Award  

ING Unsung Heroes began in 1995as a way for ING to demonstrate its commitment to the education community. Grants are given to K-12 educators utilizing new teaching methods and techniques that improve learning.  Each year, educators submit applications for an ING Unsung Heroes grant by describing projects they have initiated or would like to pursue. Each project is judged on its:

innovative method, creativity, and ability to positively influence the students.  All K-12 education professionals, whether or not they are clients of ING, are eligible. Specifically, these individuals must be:  (1)  Employed by an accredited K-12 public or private school located in the United States, or (2)  Full-time educators, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, orclassified staff with effective  projects that improve student learning.  Deadline:  April 30, 2012.  Details here.  

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes    

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes, founded by author T. A. Barron in honor of his mother, celebrates outstanding young leaders. Each year the Barron Prize honors 25 inspiring young people who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet.  These outstanding young leaders have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings and/or on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: youth 8-18. Deadline: April 30, 2012.  Nomination information here.        

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Invites Applications for Dissertation Fellowships in Education    

• increasing research projects and their application within the school environment;
• developing a national school social work role paper;
• establishing a National Center for School Social Work Practice, Leadership and Research, a long-term goal,
• hosting the first Louisiana State-wide School Social Work Conference, January 30-31, 2012, in New Orleans, LA, and
• developing the 3rd National School Social Work Research Summit to be held June 24-26, 2012, in Bloomingdale, IL (a Chicago suburb) at the Hilton Chicago/Indian Lakes Resort.

If you have interest in participating in any of these activities, contact Judie Shine.  ACSSW strives to be inclusive and transparent in all of its activities and welcomes, whether lengthy or short, the participation of its members.