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School Social Work NOW!
Supporting Innovative Practice,
Effective Leadership, and Applied Research
Vol 5, Issue 28
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Happy Memorial Day Weekend! While we enjoy the rest, relaxation, and barbecues of this weekend, let's more importantly remember those who have sacrificed their lives in service to our country, those who have provided us with the opportunity to celebrate with families and friends. Please keep them in your thoughts.
In this issue you will find a link to a very brief summary of the 2nd National School Social Work Survey and ACSSW participant data. Take a look and see what's what in the world of school social work in 2015! Watch for more in the coming months.
A final note and invitation . . . Persons who have been receiving this weekly newsletter at no cost since before the first of the year will no longer be eligible to receive it. The "complimentary" free period runs only for a couple of months to introduce people to ACSSW and what we do. At this time the newsletter can no longer be offered for extended periods of time to non-members (with the exception of Project Connect Participants). ACSSW, therefore, extends an invitation to join for a reduced cost of $95. If you value what you have received, join now to continue to receive this newsletter and to support the efforts of your national school social work association.
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Evaluating Specialized Instructional Support Personnel:
Specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) play an important role in ensuring student success. These educators meet students' needs through a wide range of services and supports (e.g., therapy, counseling, nursing, and specialized instruction). How can states and districts develop performance evaluation systems that capture the roles of these diverse educators and ensure that fair and useful feedback is available to support their evaluation?
Designed as an extension to the GTL Center's resource, Practical Guide to Designing Comprehensive Teacher Evaluation Systems, this supplemental guide helps state and district teams to problem-solve and make design decisions to differentiate evaluation systems for SISP. The supplemental guide is organized into four sections. Access Guide.
A Closer Examination of Bi-polar Disorder in School-aged Children
Children who present with severe behavioral concerns may be diagnosed as having other commonly diagnosed childhood disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and/or conduct disorder, among others, when they may be suffering from early-onset bipolar disorder. Awareness of the symptoms of early-onset bipolar disorder may lead to appropriate referrals for assessment and treatment, as well as collaborative program planning for children with bipolar disorder. Implications and recommendations for school counselors are discussed.
Many teachers and parents are not sure where to turn when a child presents with severe behavioral concerns. Early-onset bipolar disorder is often difficult to recognize and diagnose because distinguishing between normal behaviors and pathological behaviors in children can be challenging, and because symptoms of bipolar disorder may resemble those of, and/or co-occur with, other common childhood-onset mental disorders...NIMH (2000) emphasizes the importance of increased understanding and knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in youth. Complete article.
Building Resilience in Children of Alcoholics
...Research has long established that having an alcoholic parent increases a child's risk for multiple negative behavioral and developmental outcomes. That increased risk is conveyed through social, emotional, environmental, and biologic pathways.
But not all children of alcoholics succumb to the potential negative consequences. In fact, studies suggest that, despite the odds, a large proportion of children of alcoholics do not develop serious problems. Read more.
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The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Emails
In recent years, it's become more and more "acceptable" to not respond promptly to e-mails, or worse, to not respond at all. Listen, I get it. We're all busy. But that's no excuse for bad behavior. Response time is a non-verbal cue that speaks volumes about who we are, for better or for worse.
...If you think your benign neglect of email isn't hurting you, I hate to burst your bubble. This behavior could be holding you back more than you realize.
In one study, people who took two weeks to respond to an email, or didn't respond at all, were evaluated more harshly, assigned more negative intentions and viewed as less credible than their responsive counterparts. Continue.
Basic Principles of Systems Thinking as Applied to Management and Leadership
Systems thinking is a management discipline that concerns an understanding of a system by examining the linkages and interactions between the components that comprise the entirety of that defined system.
The whole system is a systems thinking view of the complete organisation in relation to its environment. It provides a means of understanding, analysing and talking about the design and construction of the organisation as an integrated, complex composition of many interconnected systems (human and non-human) that need to work together for the whole to function successfully. Discover other principles.
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2nd National School Social Work Survey: Preliminary Report to ACSSW Readers
ACSSW is pleased to share a preliminary report on the results of the 2nd National School Social Work Survey. This report compares the responses of ACSSW survey participants with the national data. Watch our website and this newsletter for more information in future months. Report.
Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience
The future prosperity of any society depends on a continuing investment in the healthy development of the next generation. The well-documented connection between adverse early experiences and a wide range of costly problems, such as lower school achievement and higher rates of criminal behavior and chronic disease, underscores the extent to which reducing the burdens of significant adversity on families with young children must be a critical part of that investment. That said, not all children exposed to stressful circumstances experience detrimental consequences. A better understanding of why some do well despite serious hardship could inform more effective policies and programs to provide support for families and help more disadvantaged children reach their full potential. Click here and scroll down to access the PDF.
...Social emotional learning is commonly defined as the processes through which students "acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions."
Much of the existing research in the field has focused on elementary and, to a lesser extent, middle schools, where fostering social and emotional skills is often seen as part of the educational mission and early intervention is possible.6 As a result, little is known about what effective social emotional learning practice looks like at the high school level-a gap that this study seeks to fill. Full report.
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There Are No Children Here:
The Story of Two Boys Growing Up In the Other America
By Alex Kotlowitz
There Are No Children Here...chronicles the true story of two brothers coming of age in the Henry Homer public housing project in Chicago over a two year period. Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers, their mother and siblings struggle to survive gun battles, gang influences, overzealous police officers, and overburdened and mismanaged bureaucracies to simply survive.
Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers are eleven and nine years old when the story begins in the summer of 1987. They live with their mother LaJoe and six siblings, through the three oldest come and go. Their father Paul is rarely around due to his drug habit. Summer is the most dangerous season as shootings are constant. The family's safe place to avoid stray bullets is in the narrow hallway of their apartment. Read more.
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Milwaukee Public Schools Department of Specialized Services Shares Best Practices in School Social Work with Omaha Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools' Department of Specialized Services recently hosted school leaders from Nebraska, representing Omaha Public Schools, who sought information about best practices in the field of school social work.
Leaders in Omaha were looking for a school social work model to apply to their plans for expansion of services in their district. They chose to visit MPS following a national review of school social work programs reflecting best practices and innovations in the field.
MPS staff - including school social workers and district and school administrators - met with the OPS staff to share the school social work model in MPS and show how school social workers are integral to the support structure in MPS.
School social workers in MPS provide critical leadership and interventions that support district initiatives in restorative practices, mental health, homeless families, trauma informed care, service learning, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), attendance, special education, community partnerships, ropes and challenges education and child welfare. Read more.
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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. Or 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.
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School Social Work Positions
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Continued - listed by state abbreviation
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Bethel, AK
Tucson, AZ
Connecticut (various)
Washington, DC
Boise, ID pool
Pocatello, ID
Barrington, IL Summer
Chicago, IL
Tinley Park, IL soc/emot coord
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Basehor, KS
DeSoto, KS
Junction City, KS
Topeka, KS
Wichita, KS
Needham, MA
Windham, ME
Brooklyn, NY
Laurinburg, NC
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Memphis, TN
Houston, TX
Murray, UT
Barre, VT
Spanaway, WA
Washougal, WA
Casper, WY
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Policy Shifts to Reduce Exclusionary Discipline with a Focus on Proactive Strategies and Improved Student Supports
June 4, 2015 2:30 - 4:00, ET
The West Virginia Department of Education has revised and developed a comprehensive set of policies that establish requirements for the development of safe and supportive schools in order to provide optimum learning conditions for both students and staff. This webinar will describe the state policy reforms and implementation and will allow time for questions about the benefits and challenges to school districts. To access:
For audio dial: 1-877-512-6886 ID: 2365393812
Death and grief will affect the lives of almost all children at some point, often leading to struggles with academic performance, social relationships, and behavior. The death of a loved one is immensely challenging for anyone, but children and teens can find it particularly difficult. Scholastic.com, through the generosity of the New York Life Foundation, hosted a live, interactive webcast on the subject of Children and Grief. Using actual scenarios from children and parents, childhood grief expert, pediatrician, and author Dr. David Schonfeld, MD, and Chris Park, president of the New York Life Foundation, talked about misconceptions, and imparted valuable advice on how educators and all other caring adults can best support grieving children-whether it's right after the loss or years later. Download webcast.
Archived by SAMHSA & KSOC-TV
Various Archived Webinars from the Center for School Mental Health, University of Maryland
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SchoolGrants
SchoolGrants was created in 1999 as a way to share grant information with PK-12 educators. Grant writing can be intimidating to those who are new at it. SchoolGrants helps ease those fears by providing online tips to those who need them. Finding suitable grant opportunities requires a great deal of time and research - SchoolGrants reduces the effort by listing a variety of opportunities available to public and private nonprofit elementary and secondary schools and districts across the United States. Sample grants are available as well as the opportunity to sign up for a listserv and newsletter. More info.
2nd Quarter Deadline: June 30, 2015
Grants of up to $1000 are available for "innovative programs, events, or projects" from the Meemic Foundation for Michigan, Wisconsin or Illinois. 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 second quarter cycle ends June 30th. Grants are up to $1000. Recipients will be notified by August 15th.
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.
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