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School Social Work NOW!
Supporting Innovative Practice,
Effective Leadership, and Applied Research
Vol 5, Issue 35
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There's still time to Register for the 2015 ACSSW Mental Health in Schools Institute, September 28th. Groups of 3 or more from the same district, school,or agency are eligible for a group discount. Don't delay. Read the brochure and register online today! Avoid a late fee by registering prior to September 23rd.
Exciting, isn't it? Some school social workers are already "back on the job." Others still have a week or two to go. Whichever it is with you, the new school years brings new hope and optimism for most adults and students. But remember, there are some who find the new year to be full of anxiety, even fear. Please be on the watch for those who experience these feelings or who may have had a summer that was relaxing or uplifting, those who for various reasons are relieved it's over. Check out the article, below, on September Absences and what they can mean.
Budgets and politics continue to drive policies and decisions in states and school districts. While this has always been the case, the last ten years have been particularly stressful for support personnel, teachers, and administrators, much less students and parents. As you negotiate the school year, keep in mind that most decisions, even those that involve you or your work, are not personal. Keep your goals for the year printed and visible near your desk so that the small reminder helps you to remain focused on what is best for students--and for yourself. Plan for stress relief, time for ourself, and FUN--even while at work. Or perhaps especially while at work.
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 Schools In Transition: A Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools
Many people loosely use the term to describe the mood swings of hormonal teenagers, and some even use it to describe the weather. Bipolar, as seen in the aforementioned examples, remains one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. Most confusion is the result of misinformation, but the media, through movies, news, and television, have also played a prominent role in mislabeling it. Lack of understanding and awareness can lead to stigmatization of the condition, which may prevent people from getting the treatment they need to make their lives better and more manageable. Let's debunk some of the most common misconceptions by examining seven common myths about bipolar. More.
This collection of interventions edited by Liana Lowenstein, MSW, can be a great resource for school social workers. Numerous interventions, categorized into several distinct sections, provide creative activities to help students through their challenges. Download.
This module on grieving by the Coalition to Support Grieving Students talks about how and why to reach out to grieving students. Thirty-five minutes long, it can be used for a school in-service. A module summary is available as a download and can be used to supplement the in-service.
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Viktor Frankl's classic text Man's Search For Meaning chronicles his years in Nazi concentration camps and his observations of who survived and why. One of his more poignant observations was of the unusually high death rate in the camp at the very end of 1944 and the start of 1945. Many of the prisoner's had held onto the hope that they would be released from their hellish captivity by Christmas. When that hope perished, their will to live succumbed as well.
These observations led Frankl to a departure from traditional psychoanalytic psychiatry. Our most basic need, he theorized, is not to be found in our sexual instincts, but in our desire for meaning in life. Those who survived the concentration camps were able to latch onto a source of purpose that transcended their daily conditions. Decades later, a wealth of psychological research has emerged to support Frankl's observations. How we handle life's most negative situations plays an important role in our positive experience. Read more.
People use the word "stress" to describe a wide variety of situations - from your cell phone ringing while you're talking on another phone - to the feelings associated with intense work overload, or the death of a loved-one.
...Our ability to cope with the demands upon us is key to our experience of stress. For example, starting a new job might be a wholly exciting experience if everything else in your life is stable and positive. But if you start a new job when you've just moved into a new house, or your partner is ill, or you're experiencing money problems, you might find it very hard to cope.
How much of this does it take to push you "over the edge"? Continue here. |
Abstract: The purpose of the current study is to demonstrate the relationship between students' attendance in September and attendance over the rest of the school year. The analysis shows that engagement and behaviors in September, traditionally the first month of school, set the stage for the following nine months and is thus a key segment of time in which successful habits and practices can be established. Click on site then clock on "download" to access paper.
Abstract: We investigated whether minority children attending U.S. elementary and middle schools are disproportionately represented in special education. We did so using hazard modeling of multiyear longitudinal data and extensive covariate adjustment for potential child-, family-, and state-level confounds. Minority children were consistently less likely than otherwise similar White, English-speaking children to be identified as disabled and so to receive special education services. From kindergarten entry to the end of middle school, racial- and ethnic-minority children were less likely to be identified as having (a) learning disabilities, (b) speech or language impairments, (c) intellectual disabilities, (d) health impairments, or (e) emotional disturbances. Language-minority children were less likely to be identified as having (a) learning disabilities or (b) speech or language impairments." Access study.
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The Community-Partnered School Behavioral Health Modules
~ Free Training Series and CEUs Offered ~
www.mdbehavioralhealth.com
Signs of Suicide Program & Gatekeeper Training Module 1.5 CEUs. Free.
from Teachers College Press. A hard copy will be mailed to you. Free.
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Recommended Read for June-July-August
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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 othe r 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.
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| Professional Development Opportunities |
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Teens with parents or caregivers in the military may be more likely to drink, smoke, and carry weapons than other kids, a U.S. study suggests. Researchers also found that adolescents with close ties to the military were more apt to be victims of physical violence and harassment.
"We believe this is partly due to ongoing stressors related to war, deployments, frequent moves, being bullied, and being involved in risky peer groups," lead study author Kathrine Sullivan, a researcher in social work at the University of Southern California, said by email. More than one million school-aged children currently have parents in the military, Sullivan and colleagues note in JAMA Pediatrics. Including families of veterans, there are four million U.S. children whose parents have served at some point since 2001. Read more.
Despite national campaigns to combat bullying, 3 in 10 districts still do not have policies that protect students from harassment. And many of these school systems are in states that require such rules by law, according to a July report from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, also known as GLSEN.
Most anti-bullying policies are developed on the district level, says Nathan Smith, director of public policy at GLSEN. Every state in the country now has an anti-bullying law, but the regulations vary widely. Only eighteen of these laws prohibit specific behaviors, such as discriminating against students based upon students' race, religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression. Complete article.
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School Social Work Positions
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Continued - listed by state abbreviation
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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.
3rd Quarter Deadline: September 30, 2015
Grants of up to $500 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 third quarter cycle ends September 30th. Grants are up to $500. Recipients will be notified by November 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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