|
School Social Work NOW!
Supporting Innovative Practice,
Effective Leadership, and Applied Research
Vol 5, Issue 10
|
|
Could this be your state next?
If you don't think this could happen elsewhere, please think again. Although districts are given the autonomy to fill whatever positions they believe they need, past history tells us that specialized instructional support personnel are usually the first position to be cut from budgets. Get involved with your state and national associations.
* * * * *
Join ACSSW in New Orleans next month! This is an informative and enjoyable national professional event spent among colleagues in a wonderful, exciting city. Make your hotel, plane, and conference registrations now. Space is limited!
If you have been unable to make hotel reservations for ACSSW's January 2015 ACSSW National SSW Mental Health Institute in New Orleans, please try again. A glitch in the reservation system has been corrected. There are rooms available. If you run into problems, please contact me or call Sally Carlson at 414-659-5853.
* * * * *
Please note that School Social Work NOW! will not be published the weeks of Christmas and New Year's. We hope you enjoy the holidays fully with family and friends!
|
Standing Up for Children's Mental Health in Schools
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
ACSSW 4th National SSW Institute on School Mental Health
Sample sessions:
- Rising Above the Scars: One Child's Nightmare of Child Sexual, Physical and Emotional Abuse & Self-destruction
- 25 Free Brain-Based Strategies to Help School Social Workers Reach, Teach & Protect our Kids in a Toxic Society
- Leading by Convening: A Blueprint for Authentic Engagement
- Resilience as a Career Strategy: A Marathon, Not a Sprint
- Motivational Interviewing as a Tool to Enhance Practice
- Girls Relational Aggression & Social Bullying
Deadline for Drury Hotel Reservations is January 2nd.
$124.99 single thru quad; $165 for queen suite
Call 800.325.0720 or 504.529.7800.
Use group reservation #2209303.
|
This updated and expanded manual,
Caring for Kids After Trauma and Death: A Guide for Parents and
Professionals, represents a synthesis of accumulated knowledge and looks at the full range of issues--the need for prevention, attention to critical needs in the midst of the crisis and reasoned research-based intervention over a longer period of time. . . Especially in times of stress, children's reactions are influenced by the adults around them. Being available, open and honest with children is important, as is providing them with a sense of normalcy and routine while limiting their exposure to news events and monitoring their reactions over time.We also know that it is important to be respectful and helpful to all individuals in a system.The usual functioning of established systems such as a school or community, will be affected as will the decision makers and caregivers within these systems. While everyone feels at a loss for explanations, it is important to cope with tasks of living rather than seek to place blame or express anger at groups of people. Individuals must offer comfort to each other and search for strength in themselves. Download Manual.
food for thought during the holidays...
Every family has their own traditions. The ways they manage regular occurring events such as birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and even losses. The tradition dictates how these events are to be practiced and who is to attend. Built in to the tradition is the expectation that those involved will continue to be involved and follow their same roles and implicit rules. The family tradition makes for a shared experience and history between family members. The experience of the family tradition gives family members a common ground, a basis to their relationship. The family traditions are the glue that bind families together over time and space. In short, family traditions give meaning and speak to the nature of one's family.
There is an inevitability with family traditions and just like the apple that must fall to earth, so too do family members feel the tug of their traditions. Complete article.
|
|
|
Participate in a brief, anonymous survey on the inclusion of eating disorder services in school mental health. Please complete the survey now. It will take only 10-15 minutes.
|
|
 |
|
|
According to a recent study, it takes only 300 tweets to know one's personality. So, when a recruiter is checking out your knowledge and skills on social platforms, they could also look for derailment factors like behaviour, interests and interaction style.
The idea is to make yourself socially visible to the influencers or recruiters of your dream job. To do this, you will need to find out which social communities do these influencers interact in. By engaging with this community in meaningful ways, you will create a presence and visibility for yourself, as an expert. Continue.
The One Thing, and the ONLY Thing We Know About Leadership Effectiveness
There are dozens, if not hundreds of leadership models that "explain" what constitutes effective leadership. And hundreds of books. However, if we step back a bit, what do we really know for sure about effective leadership? Actually, almost nothing. In fact, there's only one thing that we know for sure. Leadership effectiveness depends on the FIT between a particular leader, and the context within which he or she works. As you'll see, this simple fact has huge implications for choosing leaders, and developing them. Read more.
|
|
Research on play suggests that children of all ages benefit from engaging in play activities (Bergen, 2004). With the recent emphasis on standards and testing, however, many teachers have felt the increased pressure to spend time on structured learning events, leaving few moments of relaxation in a child's day (Chenfeld, 2006). Many elementary schools have even reduced or eliminated recess times in an effort to give children more time to work on academics (Clements, 2000). That is unfortunate, as findings from studies of play indicate that play helps children to develop social, language, and physical skills.
While beneficial for both, play often differs for girls and boys (see Gallas, 1998; Gurian & Stevens, 2005). This article reviews research related to the differences found between the genders as they play and the benefits that elementary children can gain from play. In addition, the authors include suggestions for educators regarding children's play at school. Learn more.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation published the report Creating Opportunity for Families: A Two-Generation Approach, which reviews literature on challenges for low-income families and proposes an approach to strengthen families. The report suggests programs should support families in obtaining financial stability, access to early childhood and school experiences, and parenting strategies. The report also provides recommendations for policy changes to provide low-income families with these opportunities. Download report.
|
|
Recommended Read for December
|
recommended by our reader, Jennifer Meade, school social worker, author &
mother of a child with special needs
Monday Coffee and Other Stories of Mothering Children with Special Needs
"A recent book I've found to be influential in my practice is Monday Coffee and Other Stories of Mothering Children with Special Needs edited by Darolyn "Lyn" Jones and Liz Whiteacre (InWords Press, 2013). It's a collection of stories written by mothers of children with a variety of disabilities/special needs and it brings a much needed human perspective to the work that we do that is also very poignant. I am using it this year in the Exceptional Child course that I teach to aspiring school social workers and they find it gives them a meaningful context that helps them to better relate to the material we are learning, as well as a deeper understanding of the perspectives and needs of the parents we serve. I highly recommend it!"
Mothers of children with special needs feel guilt, sadness, and joy simultaneously, which is hard to understand. The mothers in this anthology don't seek pity; instead, they illustrate a complexity of emotions that start with diagnosis, explore care in both early and later years, and invite us to witness the aftermath of too-early deaths of their children. Weaving together essays, poems, and graphics by mothers of children with a wide range of disabilities, Jones and Whiteacre have edited a collection that highlights the challenges and joys of motherhood, exposing both fears and guilty pleasures as mothers explore their relationships with their children, partners, families, caregivers, educators, and the medical community.
Amazon-Jones & Whiteacre, eds Barnes & Noble-Jones & Whiteacre, eds
|
Free 1.5 CEUs for School Social Workers
ACSSW is very pleased to offer an opportunity for any school social worker to earn 1.5 FREE CEUs due to ACSSW's sponsorship of an excellent program:
Plan, Prepare, Prevent: The SOS Online
Gatekeeper Training Module
The SOS Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program is an award winning, nationally recognized program designed for middle and high school-age students. The program teaches students how to identify the symptoms of depression and suicidality in themselves or their friends, and encourages help-seeking through the use of the ACT® technique (Acknowledge, Care, Tell). This course is available free to school social workers. With sponsorship from ACSSW, all learners will receive 1.5 contact hours upon completion. Click to Learn More. To register call 781-239-0071 or email SOS Registration and mention that you'd like to register.
Columbia University Teachers College Press published 4 guides geared to support teachers, administrators, student personnel staff, and parents. For a limited period, and as supplies last, TCP has agreed to provide FREE copies of the guides to social workers and educators working with military kids in schools including: teachers, school administrators, PPS workers, and military parents. School social workers should be aware of this wonderful, time-limited, FREE offer from TCP. Many school social workers will benefit from these guides.
The process is simple. Each individual desiring a free book would need to click on the link, select the type of book s/he desires, and fill out name, mailing address, etc. on the Qualtrix form after selecting the book desired. The book will be mailed in a few weeks.
|
|
School Social Work Positions
|
Continued - listed by state abbreviation
|
|
School social workers are a relatively new part of education but are essential behind the scenes, the board of education heard. It also learned the grant that pays for some of the services offered locally has been extended to March 2015.
"School social work is the link between home and schools," said social worker Kiana Battle at the Nov. 11 board of education meeting. "I'm an advocate for students. We can't educate a child without supporting his or her other needs."
Battle is also in charge of mandated reporter training for child abuse recognition. As many workers as possible - including substitute teachers - are being taught to recognize the signs. School social workers address social, emotional and environmental barriers to learning so teachers can prepare students to be college and career ready, Battle said. Read more.
Organizers estimate that 784 people were fed this Thanksgiving thanks in part to the efforts of Clayton County Public Schools' Department of School Social Work and its supporters. The department hosted its sixth annual food drive in November to help feed 160 area families in need. More. [Bravo, Jonesboro!!]
|
|
Maximizing the Impact of Your Suicide Prevention Program
Thursday, December 11, 1 p.m. ET
Interested in getting the most out of your suicide prevention program and keeping materials relevant year after year? Screening for Mental Health (SMH) is proud to present this free webinar on suicide prevention programming best practices.
In this webinar you will learn:
- Ways to maximize student exposure to suicide prevention programming and educational materials
- Tips from school implementers and partnering organizations on methods to keep programming fresh and engaging
- How to target upper classmen who have already been through the SOS Program with new and relevant information for their unique situations.
Speakers will include Meghan Diamon, LCSW, Youth Programs Manager at SMH. Meghan received her Masters of Social Work at the University of Georgia and gained clinical and case management experience working with youth across the country and overseas. Beyond her clinical experience, Meghan has experience partnering with school districts, administrators and educators to implement evidence-based programming for at-risk youth. Register.
Wednesday, December 17, 1 - 2 p.m. CST
Presenters: Seth Pollak, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Director of the Child Emotion Lab, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Barbara Wolfe, Richard A. Easterlin Professor of Economics, Population Health Sciences, and Public Affairs In this webinar, Seth Pollak and Barbara Wolfe will discuss their interdisciplinary study that examines how family socioeconomic status (primarily income) is reflected in the size of critical areas of a child's brain and the potential consequences for schooling attainment. Register. Archived by SAMHSA & KSOC-TV Trauma Informed Approaches for Caring for Every Child's Mental Health One Hour in Duration This archived wepisode describes SAMHSA's definition of trauma, the long-term effects of unaddressed trauma, and ways communities can work together to minimize the impact of trauma. View webisode. Various Archived Webinars from the Center for School Mental Health, University of Maryland
|
|
4th Quarter Deadline: December 31, 2014
Grants of up to $500 are available for "innovative programs, events, or projects" from the Meemic Foundation. Apply online using their easy application that takes less than 30 minutes to complete. These grants are open to any employee of a K-12 public or private school. Universities and colleges may also apply. Fill-in-the-blank application.
Grants are accepted year round, but the fourth quarter cycle ($500 max per grant) ends December 31st. Funds will be available in February-March.
The foundation says it supports "basically anything that supports teachers and enhances the student's educational experience" - from field trips to books to behavior modification programs; science, music, or art equipment to professional development.
Jacqueline Ann Morris Memorial Foundation Grant
$9,000 grant to public elementary/middle schools seeking to improve mental health services
Deadline: January 15, 2015
The Jacqueline Ann Morris Memorial Grant Program, sponsored by the American Psychological Foundation, calls for proposals from applicants looking to improve clinical/mental health services for low-income students in their public elementary or middle school.
This grant is coordinated with APA's Education Directorate. The Golden Psi Award committee serves as the intellectual resource and judges for the grant. The committee will review applications and submit a recommended grant recipient to the American Psychological Foundation Board of Trustees.
Funded schools will receive a one-time grant of $4,500; the program should be delivered over the course of one year, and grantees are expected to submit a final report of the program's effectiveness and/or impact to the APF trustees and grant committee one year following receipt of the grant. See eligibility and details.
|
|
|
|
