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School Social Work NOW! Supporting Innovative Practice, Effective Leadership, and Applied Research
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ACSSW Mental Health Awareness
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The brochure for the 3rd ACSSW Mental Health in Schools Institute is now available. This annual one-day institute will be held in downtown Milwaukee on September 28th. It is the belief of ACSSW that since we in schools must work in collaborative teams, a collaborative Mental Health Institute is productive and beneficial to all participants. We can learn from other related disciplines. Registration is online only with Early Bird registration now active. Discounts for team registrations are also available. Act now!
This week's edition of the newsletter will begin the summer schedule of every other week. Weekly mailings will be resumed in early September. However, if you find you are not receiving the newsletter for several weeks, please let us know so that we can search for the problem. Sending a back copy to you is easy, and you should get them on schedule.
President
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The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has released a new tool to help middle and high schools address secondary students' need for effective social and emotional learning (SEL). This Guide provides a framework for examining social and emotional learning (SEL) programs designed for secondary schools and rates well-designed, evidence-based programs in a Consumer Reports-style review. You will need to register to receive it, but it is no cost. Click here.
from the Liana Lowenstein Website
This strategy is designed to: help students verbally express feelings regarding major life changes; articulate how one can manage change/disruptions in the family life cycle; build resiliency in children, individuals, and families; and, utilize appropriate coping skills when faced with difficult decisions. Learn more.
Children who suffer from problematic dissociation can often display symptoms that can be misinterpreted as other psychological problems. According to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, children with dissociative disorders are prone to trance states or 'black outs' where the child becomes unresponsive or has a lapse in attention. They may also stare at nothing, forget parts of their life or what they were doing a moment ago, or act as if they just woke up in response to being called to attention. Coupled with sudden changes in activity levels (like a child being lethargic one minute and hyperactive the next), these symptoms are often misinterpreted as Attention Deficit Disorder or Bipolar Disorder.
Other dissociative symptoms like dramatic, abnormal changes in mood, personality, or age, acting in socially inappropriate ways, or insisting on being called by another name can also lead to misdiagnoses of psychotic or behavioural disorders.
Underlying all of these symptoms is a tendency for the child to separate parts of themselves, or 'fragment.' Continue.
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State, Regional & National
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It is generally accepted that higher morale leads to better productivity. And with all of the pressure on the federal government to improve performance, it makes sense to identify new ways to not just improve morale, but also employee productivity. Government managers have two basic options in trying to make a difference: Better manage within the existing work design, or change the design. Learn about this concept and apply it to your leadership situation.
Your perspective on leadership boils down to two broad categories: the micro-manager and the macro-manager. The micro-manager will supervise and approve every detail, keeping a heavy hand in the overall progress of the project. The macro-manager keeps track of goals and big-picture timelines while relying on his team to make all the smaller decisions.
The handling of the flow of ideas also distinguishes leaders. Some serve to enable the decision making skills of their teams. Others bring in a predefined philosophy and seek compliance and consent from the group.
You may hear one style and think to yourself "that sounds perfect." It probably is for your skill or environment. But that's not to say there is a perfect leadership style; only the ones that might fit best. Read more.
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Some parents of children with ADHD have long speculated that environmental toxins might play a role in the development of the condition. After all, rates of ADHD have skyrocketed in recent years, rising from 7.8% of 4- to 17-year-olds in 2003 to 22% in 2011. Surely, the thinking goes, something must be causing this epidemic. A new study offers to explain a portion of the increase. Researchers claim that exposure to a common pesticide may predispose children, especially boys, to ADHD. The study was published in Environmental Health. Learn more.
Because anxiety is the most common mental health disorder diagnosed in children, early intervention is crucial for fundamental coping. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the preferred treatment method for this affective disorder, instruction for children needs to be specific for them to successfully acquire and implement essential CBT coping skills. This research attempts such an approach, using emotional management training (EMT), a specific form of CBT for children diagnosed with anxiety disorders, to assist in regulating thoughts and emotions with a milieu of complementary group activities. Administration of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and its subdomains, Anxiety Disorder Index and Inconsistency Index, indicated a decrease in children's anxiety over the course of two program offerings. Evaluation of participants' initial anxious behaviors by counselors and end analysis resulted in a less overall anxious group. The End-of-Program Satisfaction Survey, as well as supplementary subject and parent reports, was positively consistent. The use of EMT within a social milieu for children with anxiety disorders is recommended as an alternate to the traditional CBT model. Access study.
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Recommended Read for June
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Remnants of a Life on Paper
By Bea Tusiani, Paula Tusiani-Eng and Pamela Tusiani
The book tells the story of a young woman suffering with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a psychiatric illness characterized primarily by mood swings, unstable relationships, depression and self-destructive behavior. Pamela Tusiani's copious journals, moving artwork and poetry provide an intimate glimpse of her battle with a personality she could not control. Intertwined with Pamela's voice, Bea Tusiani tells the story of her daughter's struggle and the roller-coaster effect it had on her family. The two points of view present a unique insight into Pamela's state of mind. Based on Bea's and her husband's notes, taken during conversations with Pamela, her doctors and other healthcare providers, this book allows the reader to live through Pamela's day-to-day ordeal and experience the anxiety, love and fear of her family members. This is not just the story of one vibrant, gifted young woman and her courageous family. It is a real life account of an illness that irreparably changes one's world. Download a Clinical BPD Teaching Guide.
Amazon-Tusiani, Tusiani-Eng & Tusiana Goodreads-Tusiani, Tusiani-Eng & Tusiani
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Starting next school year, any parent in Nevada can pull a child from the state's public schools and take tax dollars with them, giving families the option to use public money to pay for private or parochial school or even for home schooling.
The new law, which the state's Republican-controlled legislature passed with help from the education foundation created by former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R), is a breakthrough for conservatives, who call it the ultimate in school choice. And they are working to spread it nationwide: Lawmakers in Georgia, Iowa and Rhode Island considered similar legislation this year.
Democrats, teachers unions, public school superintendents and administrators are alarmed, saying that the Nevada law to provide private school vouchers is the first step toward dismantling the nation's public schools. More.
Eligible Maryland Schools to Provide Free Meals to All Students
As anyone who has spent time in a classroom knows, a student learns better on a full stomach.
A June 2013 survey of K-8 public-school teachers across the nation reveals that 40 percent of those surveyed considered hunger a serious problem in their classrooms. Fifty-six percent said that many or most of their students depended on school meals as their primary source of nutrition.
Maryland's Hunger-Free Schools Act, set to take effect today [June 2nd], will make it possible for entire schools and school districts to provide free meals to students. More.
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Archived
This webinar begins with a brief overview of the fundamental aspects of autism - characteristics of people on the spectrum, appropriate terms for working in the field, common myths and approaches, as well as new diagnostic criteria. When the DSM-5 was published in 2013, one of its most important changes was in its understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder. This webinar will review those changes that include the removal of pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified and Asperger's, new diagnostic criteria, and implications regarding communication. It will also consider critiques and frequently asked questions regarding the Autism Spectrum Disorders. Learn more.
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
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.
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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.
Meemic Foundation Grant
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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American Council for School Social Work |
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