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School Social Work NOW!
Supporting Innovative Practice,
Effective Leadership, and Applied Research
Vol 6, Issue 35
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News from the National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel--
The House Labor HHS Bill was released July 5th. The press release and link to the bill can be accessed here.
Of particular interest to Specialized Instructional Support Personnel is this:
Department of Education - The bill funds the DoE at $67 billion, which is $1.3 billion below the fiscal year 2016 enacted level and $2.4 billion below the President's budget request. The bill eliminates several duplicative or ineffective education programs and makes reductions to several other lower priority programs.
- Special Education - The bill includes $12.4 billion for IDEA special education grants to states, an increase of $500 million over the fiscal year 2016 enacted level which will maintain the federal share of special education funding to states.
- Student Support and Academic Achievement State Grants - The bill includes $1 billion, $500 million above the President's budget request, for grants that provide flexible funds to states and school districts to expand access to a well-rounded education, improve school conditions, and improve the use of technology.
ACSSW is pleased to announce two upcoming national events.
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The first is October 17-18, 2016 in Milwaukee. This Mental Health in Schools Institute is designed for school social workers and offers an opportunity for training in PREPaRE 2, a nationally acclaimed training for those who provide crisis and trauma response. Brochure online shortly.
- Then second January 30-31, 2017 in New Orleans. At this 5th National Advancing School Mental Health event attendees will learn much, play hard, and enjoy new connections as a result of attending this Institute. Plan now to join us at Tulane University for enriching learning opportunities. Details to come! Call for proposals out next week.
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Probably the most common underlying emotion most clients experience is one of anger. Clients may be oppositional or defiant, in which case anger is externalized, or clients might be depressed, in which case anger is internalized. Nevertheless, anger-related problems are a common reason for referral to mental health professionals. Most people, if they had a choice, would prefer not to experience anger. Anger is the mood most people are the worse at controlling (Tice, 1993). Anger is one of the six basic human emotions along with sadness, happiness, fear, surprise, and disgust. It is an emotion that all humans feel, regardless of culture. More.
Bipolar disorder is not the same as the normal ups and downs every kid goes through...The mood swings are more extreme and are accompanied by changes in sleep, energy level, and the ability to think clearly...The illness can also be dangerous. Some young people with bipolar disorder try to hurt themselves or attempt suicide. Children and and teens with bipolar disorder should get treatment. More information.
Resources from the Coalition to Support Grieving Students (CSGS) #16
The Coalition to Support Grieving Students continues to share mini-papers on the concepts of death and grieving in children. This week's resource page is Social Media and Grieving Children. "The discussion is not whether grieving students should be using social media, or whether it is appropriate. Rather, it is how best to adapt to its use in this context, and in what ways it can be used optimally." Use and share this and previous papers to help children through loss. They are designed for practitioners, for in-service training, as references, as guidance for parents, and many other avenues. Share these articles freely and tell us what you think.
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If you are reading this article, then you are ahead of most when it comes to furthering your business and leadership knowledge. Great leaders are great learners. Many business people scoff at leadership advice, thinking that no article or book - or even a training class - is a good substitute for real-life experience.
That may be true, but real-life leadership experience can be hard to come by for those who seek to advance...Here are 10 ways to take control of your leadership development. Learn more.
Since our understanding of effective and ineffective leadership is a little unreliable, and firm and consistent findings about what makes leaders good or not are often lacking, it's not surprising that many people hold some misguided ideas about leadership -- myths, if you like. On this page you'll find discussion of these myths so you can examine them, reflect, and decide what you believe. Continue. |
...Researchers measured the social skills of 800 kindergarteners in 1991. Two decades later, they looked them up to see how things turned out.
Kindergarten teachers evaluated the kids with a portion of something called the Social Competence Scale by rating statements like "The child is good at understanding other's feelings" on a handy "Not at all/A little/Moderately well/Well/Very well" scale.
The research team used these responses to give each kid a "social competency score," which they then stored in what I assume was a manila folder somewhere for 19 years, or until each kid was 25. At that point, they gathered some basic information about the now-grown-ups and did some fancy statistical stuff to see whether their early social skills held any predictive value. More.
The three most common supports were connecting parents to community resources, acting as a liaison between school and home and emotional support. Respondents reported parents most frequently report stress in relating to behavior, educational needs and lack of resources. Some respondents reported certain areas of stress in which they did not feel it was their place to provide supports such as parent support groups.
These findings also uncover implications for future research. There is a need for more detailed research investigating the role school social workers have in supporting parents of a child with ASD. It is important to identify what stressors these parents are experiencing in order to develop best practice and interventions. Full study.
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Recommended Read for July
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Traumatic Experience and the Brain: A Handbook for Understanding and Treating Those Traumatized As Children
by Dave Ziegler
Traumatic Experience and the Brain is the result of Dr. Dave Ziegler's three decades of experience with children traumatized by abuse and/or neglect. This book details the effect of such trauma on the developing brain, describing how it actually rewires one's perceptions of self, others, and the world. It is a book of hope for foster, natural, and adoptive parents of such "broken" children and the therapists, teachers and social workers who attempt to help them. Dave Ziegler, M.S., Ph.D., is the director of Scar/Jasper Mountain, a residential treatment program in Oregon for some of society's most damaged children.
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| Professional Development Opportunities |
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11th Annual Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work
July 14-16, 2016
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We all have heard the term the "starving student", but typically it's a reference to playfully tease a student who has limited pocket money. However, the starving student is no longer a playful joke, but rather a serious reality many 20-something year old college students face. A recent study commissioned by Cal State University (CSU) Chancellor Timothy P. White reveals that one in 10 Cal State students are homeless, and one in five do not have access to sufficient food.
The findings of the study have been shocking to administrators, faculty, and the public alike. For social work students at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) this week's breaking news comes as no surprise. Access article.
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School Social Work Positions
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ESSA: Meeting Students' Needs Under Title IV
August 25, 2016 - 3 - 4 pm ET
Rather than continuing to authorize individual programs that support a well-rounded education, ESSA creates a block grant that provides formula funding to states and districts. Districts that receive funds under this block grant must spend at least 20 percent of their allocation on a well-rounded academic activity and 20 percent on an activity that supports safe and healthy students, and they may use some funds to expand the use of technology. This means that, although discrete funding streams will no longer be available to support programs such as physical education, district leaders can allocate funds from the block grant according to their schools' needs, without the hassle of applying for a myriad of grants to support various activities. Learn more and click on "add to calendar."
The Intersectionality of Race and Class in Identity-Based Bullying
October 6, 2016 - 2 - 3 pm ET
This session will focus on creating greater awareness of the intersectionality of race and class in bullying incidents and the role of the educator in understanding the subtle and more nuanced differences from traditional bullying . Drawing on recent examples, as well as participant experiences, this interactive workshop will explore the relationship between bullying, stereotypes, race, class and school climate. We will discuss strategies for responding to bias-motivated bullying ,help students better understand the specific role of being an ally and to develop the motivation to create inclusive school environments for all students. Learn more and register.
The Impact of Terrorism on Children: What Harms, What Helps
The University-Based Child and Family Policy Consortium, in collaboration with the Society for Research in Child Development, hosted "The Impact of Terrorism on Children: What Harms, What Helps" webinar on February 16, 2016. Based on an SRCD Social Policy Report written by James Garbarino and colleagues, and the Social Policy Report Commentary by Ann Masten, this webinar will discuss the research on the effects of children's exposure to terrorism. Access webinar. Approx. 1 hr.
Webisode: Behavioral Health Concerns in Classrooms
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) latest webisode recording with Knowledge Network for Systems of Care TV (KSOC-TV) addresses the topic of identifying and managing behavioral health concerns in elementary school classrooms. The panelists, including Center for School Mental Health affiliate faculty, Dr. Kimberly Becker, provide specific strategies on how students, parents, teachers, and administrators can work together to support positive mental health among elementary school students. Watch by clicking here. Approx. 1 hr.
Webisode: Expulsion and Suspension Policies in Early Childhood Settings
The Child and Family Policy Consortium webinar features presentations on expulsion and suspension policies in early childhood settings. Speakers include Dr. Walter Gillian (Yale University) and Dr. Oscar Barbarin (University of Maryland - College Park). Click here to watch. Approx. l hr.
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3rd Quarter Deadline: September 30, 2016
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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