Volume 6, Issue 2                                                                                                                 November 2015
            
Director's Message

   
 
Last month, we held our first Pupil Services Integration Meetings in each Local District. These meetings provided all staff with the opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn more about the roles and responsibilities of Pupil Services and Attendance programs, and have conversations to support improved collaboration. We have received and reviewed staff feedback and we will be sure to use your evaluations to strengthen our upcoming meetings. 

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Today, in 2015, 1 in every 30 students is homeless.  Our Board of Education will pass a Resolution recognizing the importance of this issue and affirming the District's commitment to serving our homeless students. 
 
Our Pupil Services 3rd Annual Symposium and Resource Fair will take place on November 5, 2015 at the California Endowment Center. This year the symposium entitled, "Building Pathways to Educational Success: Addressing the Needs of Specific Student Populations" will highlight the Foster Youth Achievement Program, Juvenile Hall/Camp Returnee Program as well as the Student Enrollment Placement and Assessment (SEPA) Center under Student Health and Human Services. Together we will hear from our Keynote Speaker, Presiding Judge Michael Levanas, Panel Facilitator, Board Member M�nica Garc�a and four of our students Erik Andrade, Liliana Flores, Duglas A. Dolores Leonardo and Linda Reynoso. The symposium provides the opportunity for our LAUSD Executive staff as well as Community Partners to network and hear about all of the great things happening within Pupil Services. 

Lastly, don't forget to mark your calendar and plan to join colleagues and community partners at our 3rd Annual Resource Fair on November 5, 2015 also held at the California Endowment Center. Over 50 agencies will be present to provide District staff and Community Partners with resources to support our students and families. We look forward to hosting successful event. 

Respectfully,
Erika F. Torres
Director 

            
APSAC
If you were not able to participate in the DSM 5 Training last year, this professional development training is being offered once again on Thursday, November, 05, 2015 at the California Endowment Center during the Pupil Services Symposium and Resource Fair. Two sessions will be held and three CEU's are being offered. The fee to attend the professional development training is $20 for APSAC members and $30 for non-members.

Our next APSAC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. If you are interested in becoming an Area Representative for APSAC, please email Lovin McGee at [email protected].
 


Featured News


Quick Links

Upcoming Important Dates
November
National Homeless Youth Awareness Month 
5 Resource Fair
5 Symposium
11 Veterans Day Observed
14 Brazos Abiertos Resource Fair 
23-25 Unassigned Days
26-27 Thanksgiving Holiday
Truancy Automation
Central Automation of 
Initial NOT Letters

Initial NOT letters are being generated or mailed to parents by central office at this time. Schools are required to maintain accurate up-to-date enrollment and attendance records, and to update student attendance records and absence reason codes regularly.  Qualifying students will receive the centrally generated initial Notification of Truancy letter based upon their attendance record since the beginning of this year. For more information please refer to REF 5464.3. Schools may access the Truancy Reports by clicking here.

You can access the MS Word versions of the NOT letters by clicking on this link: NOT Letter Templates.
LOCAL DISTRICT AND SCHOOL BASED SUPPORT  
LOCAL DISTRICT CENTRAL
Attendance Awareness Month was promoted throughout Local District Central office and schools in the month of September. Local District Central administrators, certificated and classified staff were given a green ribbon, information of School Attendance Month and were asked to wear green on Thursdays for the entire month. Local District Central wanted and communicate to all stakeholders throughout the Local District about the importance of ensuring that every student is attending school regularly throughout the school year.

National research tells us that between 5 and 7.5 million students are at risk of missing 10 percent or more school days in excused or unexcused absences. Students who are chronically absent are at significant risk of suffering academically. Therefore, attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves. Many schools throughout the district conducted Student Recovery Day on September 10th as a "Kick Off" event to promote Attendance Awareness Month. Manual Arts High School and Santee High School were among the schools in our Local District that participated and yielded positive results.

Many Local District Central Pupil Services Counselors led school-wide events at their school site and initiated various activities throughout the month. Among all the events one of our biggest activities was Operation School Bell on September 25, 2015.  We collaborated with our Organization Facilitator, Gloria Espinoza, Operation Coordinators, School Mental Health and the Homeless Education Program. Operation School Bell on Wheels served our students from Local District Central.  We clothed a record 262 children from over 30 schools that included 56 students served through the Homeless Education Program.  Students received school supplies, backpacks, hygiene kits, clothing, and a book.  Normandie Avenue Elementary School hosted our Operation School Bell event and we would like to publicly recognize Mr. Gustavo Ortiz, staff and PSA Counselor, Gretel Ruvalcaba for their support and assistance.

School Attendance is an integral part of student's academic success and our parents, teachers, support staff, and administration all have an important role to foster and encourage our children to attend school daily and on time. Principals were provided key strategies that could be easily incorporated at their school site. School success goes hand in hand with good attendance! Local District Central schools and offices are committed to ensuring that every child attends school regularly.
LOCAL DISTRICT EAST
Oralia Bahena Catalan, Local District East PSA Counselor, is implementing creative incentives and campaigns to ignite children's excitement about coming to school every day! While Ms. Bahena Catalan is a new PSA Counselor this school year, she understands the importance of reaching students by tapping into their interests. She promotes attendance at her school sites by designing interesting bulletin boards. At one of the school sites, she created a cell phone bulletin board with text messages displayed in the screen. She wrote a catchy message about coming to school to catch students' eye and draw their attention to the names of those with perfect attendance.

Ms. Bahena Catalan states that she knows that students are fascinated with cell phones and media, therefore, she wanted to utilize these interests to turn their attention to school and the importance of excellent school attendance for future success.

In addition to reaching students' at their level, Ms. Bahena Catalan is building relationships with parents and faculty through constant communication. She attends different types of parent meetings and brings flyers with statistics on attendance. She also shares data and research with parents and teachers on truancy's implications for school success and ultimately, graduation. She believes that creating partnerships are critical to student success.
LOCAL DISTRICT NORTHEAST
When she was first assigned to Sun Valley Middle School last year, PSA Counselor Megan George  inherited responsibility for a long-standing tradition: identifying students for the school's Perfect Attendance Wall.  Ms. Winesburg, theater teacher, and her students regularly develop artistic and beautiful displays to highlight students with perfect attendance on a large bulletin board that is located opposite the Attendance Office.  This Perfect Attendance Wall is redesigned every couple of months, and perfect attendance is counted separately for each discreet period of time so that all students have a fresh start and an opportunity to get their names on the "Wall" each time it is transformed.

Last school year, when MiSiS was presenting serious challenges to generating lists of perfect attendance, Ms. George refused to give up.  She persisted in identifying students for the "Wall", even though the time required was intensive, and she was never certain if the information was completely accurate.  But Ms. George remembers, "we really wanted to showcase our students and thought it was better to accidentally reward a few who maybe didn't really meet the goal than to not reward the many who did meet it."  Fortunately, as the data system has improved, Ms. George has found simpler and more efficient ways to identify the qualifying students.

Every time a new Perfect Attendance Wall is revealed, Ms. George prepares a morning announcement which congratulates all students who have made it onto the "Wall", and encourages the entire school to stop by and have a look.  It would be hard to imagine how any passerby could miss the current display of eye-catching vibrant fish swimming in the ocean with the title "A Different School of Thought."  Ms. George has seen students crowd around to check and see if their names appeared, and even take photos of the "Wall" 

The Perfect Attendance Wall demonstrates how collaboration between PSA Counselors and other members of the school community can bring everyone together to build community, get excited about school, recognize excellence in one another, and inspire students to achieve. 
LOCAL DISTRICT NORTHWEST

One of Local District Northwest core beliefs is that Families and Communities are LAUSD partners for student success. To this end the efforts of the Community Outreach teams on Student Recovery Day included visiting local Faith-Based Organizations. To highlight the importance of partnerships the Faith-Based Organizations were visited by the Local District Superintendent, Ms. Ekchian, Pupil Services staff and the principal of Monroe HS. The visits led to discussions about community involvement to support academic success of Local District Northwest students.

A total of five Faith-Based Organizations were visited and all were receptive to establishing direct working relationships with the Local District Northwest office including Pupil Services and Attendance. The Nanak Sadan Sikh Temple gave the team a tour of their facility highlighting that they are developing their weekend educational component. The Church of the Living Word shared that they have a private education facility and would like to work with LD Northwest on truancy prevention. The North Hills United Methodist Church informed the team that they are one of four Refugee Welcome Centers for unaccompanied minors. For more information about the organization please contact (747) 529-4783. Superintendent Ekchian and Pupil Services staff will continue to work with these organizations to promote school attendance and support student academic achievement. 
LOCAL DISTRICT SOUTH

Local District South started the year organizing another ambitious project. The goal was to ensure that students in Local District South receive new clothing, shoes, backpacks, and school supplies. To make this happen, Operation School Bell (OSB) on Wheels provided the needed items.

PSA Counselors Crisalia Aranibar and Stacy Davis with students Genesis Santee and Helen Paz of Ritter Elementary School.
For years, OSB has provided new clothing, shoes and personal grooming products to children in need. Providing students with these essential items has proven to enhance students' self- esteem, promote their learning and improve regular school attendance. With only eight days to plan and organize an event of this magnitude, the staff worked together to be ready prepared on August 28, 2015.  Under the extraordinary leadership of Principal Elizabeth Kane at Parmelee Elementary School, her school staff and the Local District South staff made it look easy. Ms. Kane was on hand before 6:00 a.m. swinging chairs and tables with all the other able-bodied volunteers.
PSA Counselors Ashley Brown and Linda Cortez with Yazman Bazzelle, Taz Bazzelle, Samiyah Horton and Nasir Velazquez of Leapwood Elementary School. 





Thanks also goes to all the Administrators and Support Staff from the forty surrounding Elementary Schools who were able to bring 254 students to the event, a record number compared to any previous OSB on Wheels event. Despite the temperature approaching 100 by midday, everyone remained cool and upbeat. Events such as this one, enlist countless volunteers, employees, and parents and also required long hours of hard labor but in the end, it was all worth it to see the smiling faces of all the grateful students.

A special thank you to Parmelee Elementary School Staff who graciously hosted this event!
LOCAL DISTRICT WEST
Virginia Road Elementary School's PSA Counselor, Nantrece Carraby has had many opportunities to highlight their students who come to school every day, on time! Students look forward to Thursdays and Fridays because they know there will be Random Attendance Drawings. Students who are present and on time to school are eligible to have their names in the drawing; students eagerly wait, hoping to hear their names over the elementary school's PA system.

There were 171 students recognized in a Perfect Attendance Assembly for attending school for the first 25 days of instruction, including zero tardies. Students received a 25th Day Perfect Attendance Certificate to take home and share with their families.

Ms. Carraby (shown in picture) is proud to be a part of Local District West! She shared that she has had the opportunity to thrive, gain knowledge, experience, and awareness from her peers who believe in the word TEAM!
 SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
The Academic Support and Achievement Program (ASAP) is newly established this year as a result of the reorganization of the former Neglected, Delinquent, and/or At-Risk youth program.  The program provides targeted, intensive academic support and intervention to improve educational outcomes for identified, high-need foster, probation, and/or at-risk youth.  The program provides extended day (afterschool) one-on-one or small group tutoring, implemented by Highly Qualified LAUSD teachers.  The program matches referred high-need students to teacher tutors, who assess student needs and interests and establish individualized student tutoring plans.  Student progress is monitored and reviewed with a multi-disciplinary team every 90 days.   

The program aims to:
1. Improve educational services for youth who are neglected, delinquent or at-risk so that they have the opportunity to meet the same challenging academic standards as all other students
2. Engage caregivers, parents, and community partners in the educational process
3. Improve basic academic skills (math and reading)
4. Improve academic grades, as well as cooperation and work habits marks
5. Increase credit accrual toward high school completion
6. Increase graduation rates

A kickoff event for teachers was held on October 27th. We are still recruiting highly qualified LAUSD teachers. Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Academic Support and Achievement Program. 
ATTENDANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Sherri Jaye is the Attendance Improvement Counselor at both Raymond Avenue Elementary School and Bradley Global Awareness Magnet in Local District West. In addition to focusing on student attendance with the Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten students, Sherri also focuses on Parent Engagement. She has always been passionate about working closely with the parents at her schools. At both schools she facilitates parent groups once a week throughout the entire school year. Parents have an opportunity to connect with each other and learn various techniques to properly discipline their children, establish rules and routines, and provide consistency in the home. Sherri also addresses the importance of nutrition by bringing in samples of healthy meals and snacks for parents to eat. Parents receive a certificate of completion if they attend for ten consecutive weeks, which fulfills the parenting class requirement.

The parents enjoy coming to Sherri's parent groups because she has created a safe environment for them to share their life experiences. Sherri uses curriculum from various sources such as Parent in Control, which allows parents to discuss various parenting and behavioral issues. Parents are also welcomed to come with their own family-related issues to discuss with the group. In addition to parents learning different techniques to address their child's behavior issues, Sherri also teaches Second Step to the Kindergarten students. The students learn about empathy, feelings and how to problem solve with their peers. Sherri has demonstrated much success in working with both the parents and students at her schools, which is shown in a decrease in behavioral problems and an increase in student attendance.
 
Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Attendance Improvement Program.
JUVENILE HALL /CAMP RETURNEE PROGRAM
LAUSD students who come in contact with the Juvenile Justice system have a difficult time transitioning back to school and community. When facing additional challenges, receiving aftercare case management services makes all the difference in a student's academic success.

Every step a student takes to reach academic success is something to highlight and celebrate.
Cesar Rodriguez was a 17-year old 12th grader with a child on the way and had a long history of school suspensions. He did not comply with his terms and conditions of probation. Consequently, Cesar was sentenced to camp. While in camp, he attended school and was able to earn many high school credits. Once released from camp, he expressed the need for a smaller alternative school setting and with the help and guidance of PSA Camp Placement Counselor, Mr. Cesar Chaparro, was enrolled in the City of Angels Independent Study program.

Toward the end of Cesar's 12th grade year, Mr. Chaparro transferred the case to PSA Camp Aftercare Counselor, Ms. Cristina Quiroz. She met Cesar and thereafter conducted routine home and school visits in an effort to support Cesar in accomplishing his goal of earning a high school diploma. In collaboration with the student's probation officer, academic counselor and assistant principal she determined he qualified to receive a high school diploma under the Assembly Bill 216, which applies to both foster and probation youth.

Upon being released from Camp, Cesar's priority became obtaining his high school diploma and finding a job. In the final semester of high school, his attendance and overall attitude towards school tremendously improved. However, with one final assignment still due, his girlfriend went into labor and his daughter was born. Cesar had failed to communicate with his teacher regarding the completion of his final assignment.  After many attempts to contact Cesar, Ms. Quiroz was successful in supporting him to submit the final assignment to his teacher and fulfill his graduation requirements on the last day of school. Once back from summer vacation, Ceasr was presented with a high school diploma.

Cesar is currently working as a gardener and hopes to eventually work as a longshoreman in San Pedro or with the Southern California Gas Company. He plans to attend Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) in the Spring Semester of 2016. Cesar continues to work hard to be a good father who is actively involved in the life of his new daughter.

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Juvenile Hall/Camp Returnee Program.
DIPLOMA PROJECT
Diploma Project LogoIn recognition of the outstanding work that Diploma Project staff have been doing for the past five years under the federally funded High School Graduation Initiative Grant, we are pleased to announce the program's expansion! Program staff provide comprehensive services  to students at identified schools throughout LAUSD. This year Title 1, CORE Waiver "Priority" Senior High Schools and their corresponding feeder middle schools with the largest number of students matriculating to those high schools have been added and existing Diploma Project schools were maintained. Diploma Project Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors were previously assigned to 12 schools. This year staff will work at a total of 39 schools. Middle schools will have one staff member ensuring that 8th grade students are able to successfully matriculate to high school. The identified high schools will have two staff members; one will provide intervention services to 9th and 10th grade students, who are at-risk and/or off track to graduate while the other PSA Counselor provides interventions to 11th and 12th grade students who are at-risk of dropping out and also students who are recent non-graduates.

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Diploma Project.
FAMILYSOURCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
On September 3, 2015, the FamilySource Partnership Program (FSPP) presented to the City of Los Angeles' Housing and Community Investment Department (HCID) Community Action Board (CAB) to highlight the successes of the partnership during its first year. In 2014-15, a total of 1,697 families were served and a total 3,256 students received a psycho-social assessment from a Pupil Services and Attendance (PSA) Counselor. In addition, PSA Counselors in the program facilitated 18 Abriendo Puertas parenting class sessions and 180 one-time parent workshops on various topics, including the importance of school attendance, college readiness, and understanding the report card.


The highlight of the presentation was when Ms. Elaine Ruiz, PSA Counselor at El Centro del Pueblo FamilySource Center (FSC), and Ms. Loraine Cortez, PSA Counselor at Central City Neighborhood Partners (CCNP) FSC introduced parents whom they supported through the partnership. Ms. Ruiz presented Ms. Yesenia Zelaya (as shown in picture on left), parent of a 10th grader at RFK High School and a 2nd grader at Logan Span School. The PSA Counselor has helped Ms. Zelaya, a recent immigrant from El Salvador, navigate her son's school in terms of his mental health needs, provided her diapers/wipes, connected her to El Centro del Pueblo FSC's services and put her in contact with school personnel.

Ms. Loraine Cortez, PSA Counselor presented Ms. Velma Santos, parent of a 4th grade student at Gratts
Shown in picture above from left to right: Veronica Olmos  McDonnell, Hilda Peralta, Velma Santos, and Loraine Cortez.  
Elementary. Ms. Santos was referred to CCNP FSC from the School Enrollment, Placement and Assessment (SEPA) center. Through the partnership she was linked to intensive case management, tutoring for her child and ESL classes. With support from some of these services Ms. Santos has been able to overcome challenges after fleeing violence in her home country where they were detained.

It is because of the great resolve of these wonderful parents and families, the services at the FSCs and the caring support of the PSA Counselors, that the FamilySource Partnerhip Program City-Partnership has been a true success.

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the FamilySource Partnership Program.
YOUTHSOURCE CITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2011, Nicodemus has lived in Northridge, North Hollywood, Florence, Highland Park, and now Lincoln Heights. He found himself in trouble because of the instability faced from moving so often. The only thing he could transfer from place to place was the ability to relate to individuals who, like himself, had no hopes of graduating high school or entering college.
 
However, his senior year at Franklin High School, the third high school he attended, he tried his hardest to graduate. He joined his school's wrestling team and started passing his classes. His counselor informed him that he would not be able to graduate, due to lack of credits. This was difficult for him to hear. Nicodemus was ready to give up on school altogether and drop out, but then his counselor introduced him to Ms. Hernandez, PSA Counselor at Para Los Ni�os (PLN) YouthSource Center.
 
Ms. Hernandez provided him with information on credit recovery programs that would allow him to graduate with his class. In addition, she provided him with work readiness programs such as: money management, resume building, literacy skills, and internship opportunities. Nicodemus states, "To describe the organization by those things alone would be doing it a disservice. PLN is a stepping stone into adulthood that any troubled or non-troubled youth can learn and grow from". PLN Youth Source Center helped him discover what he wanted to become in life: a probation officer. PLN has helped him file for Financial Aid and enter Pasadena City College.
 
Nicodemus states, "The organization has opened my eyes to a new world and allowed me to become a young adult with a map of how to achieve my dreams and goals out of life".

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the YouthSource City Partnership.
FOREIGN STUDENT ADMISSIONS PROGRAM
Last month PSA Counselors with the Foreign Student Admissions Office (FSAO)
Foreign students at Cleveland High School during their welcome orientation. 
held welcome orientations for international students attending LAUSD High Schools district wide. This school year the FSAO has international students from sixteen foreign countries studying at fourteen high schools across the district. PSA Counselors are working to support international students, host families and placement agencies during this transition; helping international students overcome acculturation or any educational issues,  and feel a sense of connection at their schools.
 
Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Foreign Student Admissions Office.

FOSTER YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM

This past summer, the Foster Youth Achievement Program (FYAP) sponsored approximately 150 students in grades fourth through eighth to attend a one week overnight summer camp with the Beyond the Bell Program - Office of Outdoor and Environmental Education.

The students had the opportunity to attend Clear Creek Outdoor Education Center located in the Los Angeles National Forest Mountains or Point Fermin Marine Science Center located in the San Pedro area. Each destination was unique and provided the students an opportunity to engage in recreational and educational activities. Students had an amazing time as they learned about environmental awareness, and developed independence and leadership skills.

FYAP is excited to have provided this opportunity to our foster youth. As we learned, the camp experience is invaluable to many. Upon returning, one of our fourth grade students shared that he lives in a shelter with his family. He stated that his greatest joy from camp was not having to wake up at 2:00 am to stand in line to shower and get breakfast before heading to school. Camp provided stability, shelter, safety and fun for some of our most vulnerable and at-risk students. FYAP is gearing up now to coordinate Winter Camp and Spring Camp. Eighty foster youth will be participating in this extraordinary experience this coming December 2015 and April 2016. Click here to view the English Flyer / Spanish Flyer.  Please contact the Foster Youth Achievement Program for further information at 213-241-3552.

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Foster Youth Achievement Program.

GROUP HOME SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Group Home Scholar Program Liaisons facilitated a Mid-Semester Kick-off event during the month of September 2015 in each Local District. The collaboration between the Group Home Scholar Program Liaisons and the Group Home Administrators (GHA) provided the opportunity for a discussion on how to ameliorate barriers to school stability. The Group Home Program Scholar Liaisons reviewed the goals of the program, which are to improve educational services for youth in group homes so they have the opportunity to meet challenging state academic content and achievement standards, provide the students with services to support a successful transition from institutionalization, higher education or employment, prevent youth who are at-risk from dropping out of school, and to provide youth returning from correctional facilities with a support system to ensure their continued education.

The emphasis of the Mid-Semester Kick-off was relationship building. The Group Home Administrators were enthusiastic about the redesigned program, which will strengthen relationships between stakeholders involved in the care of our students in group homes. LAUSD Liaisons are being physically housed in the offices of the Department of Probation and Department of Children and Family services to promote transparency and collaboration. The Liaisons' co-location makes it possible to improve communication on behalf of our students and to diplomatically express concerns to the children's social workers. The Group Home Administrators were also receptive to the resources given by the Liaisons which included a brief overview of California Education Codes and Assembly Bills to increase school stability, eliminate barriers to immediate enrollment, advocate for youth to remain in the school of origin, and activate foster care extension for youth ages 18-21.

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn about the Group Home Scholars Program.
HOMELESS EDUCATION PROGRAM
November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month and the newly expanded Homeless Education Program (HEP) has a variety of upcoming events scheduled to raise awareness of the issues facing our homeless students and families. The program invites everyone wear the color purple to support our efforts.
  

Please note the following upcoming Homeless Youth Awareness Fundraisers:

Trimana Caf� (At Beaudry)

11/3, 11/10, & 11/17-Porto's (baked goods)
11/6 & 11/20-Liliana's (tamales)

California Pizza Kitchen
11/13- all day event
330 S. Hope St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071

HEP is also excited to announce Operation School Bell on Wheels: Universal Studios Day of Giving which will be held on Thursday, November 12th 2015. 250 K-6th grade students will be served at this event. For more information please visit the Homeless Education Program website and watch your email for updates.

In addition, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) conference, the only national event of its kind, will take place in Phoenix, AZ., from November 15 -17, 2015. Three staff members from our Homeless Education Program (Nancy Gutierrez, Coordinator; Tammy Wood, Senior Parent Community Facilitator; and Katie Rivezzo, District Counselor) will be presenting a session entitled "Beyond the Backpack," to homeless liaisons, service providers, educators, community leaders, advocates, and legislators from across the nation. This presentation will focus on how to inspire professionals to create memorable experiences, outings, and events for homeless students and their families, as well as going above and beyond simply removing basic barriers for McKinney-Vento identified students.

On Saturday November 21, 2015 the program will also be participating in the United Way Homewalk, a 5k walk/run to end veteran homelessness in Los Angeles. Please consider joining our group, Homeless Education Program, LAUSD or donating to us. Please go to this link for event details or to join their group http://unitedwayla.org/homewalk/information/

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the Homeless Education Program and to view the HEP Fall Newsletter . 
CLINICAL SUPERVISION

Pupil Services provides individual and/or group clinical supervision to PSA Counselors registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) who are interested in pursuing licensure in their designated discipline. The purpose of supervisions is to enhance the clinical professional skills, knowledge, and attitudes of counselors in order to improve professional growth and competency. 

On October 7, 2015 the Clinical Supervision Orientation was held to provide information regarding the Pupil Services Clinical Supervision program. Of those who requested supervision, 65 PSA Counselors have been assigned to receive either group or individual supervision. 
If you are interested in receiving or providing clinical supervision please contact Elsa Garcia Sanda or Teresa Murillo at (213) 241-3844.
FIELD EDUCATION PROGRAM

Pupil Services interns have begun this school year ready to learn at their assigned school site alongside their Field Instructor and/or Preceptor. This year, all interns will receive four mandatory trainings. On September 16, 2015 interns attended their initial orientation meeting,  where they received an introduction to Child Abuse Awareness, Suicide Prevention/Threat Assessment, Field Education Program Guidelines and Protocols and the role of Child Welfare and Attendance supporting specific student populations. On October 7, 2015 interns met for their second training and received information on Compulsory Education & Truancy Laws, Student Attendance Review Team, School Attendance Review Board (SARB) and Case Preparation for SARB. The third mandatory training will be held on January 13, 2016.
 
Shown above: Lissette Gomez-Solano, Lead PSA Counselor, Local District East presented to the interns on SARB.

An upcoming optional intern training on Mental Health First Aid is scheduled for November 18, 2015. Interns interested in participating in this optional training will need to register via a Doodle link that will be emailed to them. 

On September 21, 2015 a meeting was held for Field Instructors and Preceptors who were interested in providing feedback and learning best practices at the California Endowment Center. PSA Counselors Maribel Mungia Dugas, Polytechnic HS and America Alvarenga-Phillips, South Gate HS, shared their best practices in supervising interns with their peers. This meeting was a great opportunity for colleagues to discuss prior experiences and how they can continue to develop effective tools in working with and supporting the learning of our interns. 

Visit the Pupil Services website to learn more about the  Field Education Program. 
LAUSD GRAD VAN SERVICES
Pupil Services utilizes the Grad Van as part of outreach efforts to engage students, parents and the community. The Grad Van provides a unique means of support and information to families across the district, increasing access to school and community resources for families who may face logistical barriers.

During the month of October, the Grad Van unit represented visited four events;  Fall Into Literacy, Feria 
de Educacion, Health and Resource Fair and Cash For College. Resources were provided at both events to students and families including attendance information, high school graduation requirements, college information, as well as Financial Aid. 

Visit the Pupil Services website to access the flyer and the request form for the Grad Van for an upcoming school event. 

Please note:  A minimum of three weeks advanced notice is necessary. All requests are reviewed carefully and confirmation of the event is based on van staffing and availability.