School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System

Be Counted! Shape the Future of School Mental Health

The Center for School Mental Health is pleased to launch the National School Mental Health Census and Performance Measures via the online platform the School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation System (the SHAPE system). The SHAPE System is a free, interactive system designed to improve school mental health accountability, excellence, and sustainability. The SHAPE System is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau effort to expand and improve the quality of comprehensive school mental health systems in the United States. The SHAPE system allows users to:

Be Counted

Registering to create an account with the SHAPE system allows your school or district to be counted in the National Quality Initiative Census of School Mental Health Systems

Rate Your Performance

Self-assess your school mental health system’s quality and sustainability based on national standardized performance measures just for school mental health

Track Student Progress

Track the progress and outcomes of your school interventions for individual students, groups, classrooms, or whole school activities.

View and Print Customized Reports

Obtain printable reports on your system’s performance in quality and sustainability areas that you can bring back to your school teams with recommendations and resources for improvement.

Get Free Resources

Browse a comprehensive resource library of PDFs, videos, guides, and weblinks on all aspects of school mental health programming.

Register your school or district today at the link below and be counted in this important initiative!

 http://theshapesystem.com/

Helping Students Find a Good College Match--Free Webinar

Helping Students Find a Good College Match

Finding a college that's a good fit is challenging for any student, but especially for those who are the first in their families to attend college. In this webinar, we'll hear how one high school counselor helps her first-generation students navigate the college-planning maze. And we'll review national research that can offer guidance about the best ways to help first-generation and low-income students avoid key stumbling blocks on the road to college.
Underwriting for this webinar has been provided by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

Guests:

Jessica Howell, executive director of research, College Board
Lauren Quigley, director of college counseling, Young Women's Leadership School of Astoria (New York)
This webinar will be moderated by Catherine Gewertz, associate editor, Education Week
Register now for this free live webinar.

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015, 2 to 3 p.m. ET

Can't attend? All Education Week webinars are archived and accessible "on demand" for up to four months after the original live-streaming date.

Step by Step:College Awareness and Planning

Here are some FANTASTIC resources provided from NACAC (National Association for College Admissions Counseling) regarding College Awareness and Planning for Families, Counselors and Communities. This resource also has powerpoint presentations available for usage in the classroom and with parents.  

  http://www.nacacnet.org/research/PublicationsResources/Marketplace/student/Pages/GuidingEducation.aspx.  

Counselor Connection Agenda--December 2

Some updates to the schedule for December 2 -- please see the link. If you want to register, please click here.

Grieving

Do you know a student grieving the loss of a loved one? Today an exciting new resource is being launched with the goal of letting grieving children know that they are not alone: www.sharedgrief.org. The Shared Grief Project showcases the stories of celebrities and high-profile athletes who experienced loss growing up.
As a founding member of the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, ASCA continues to work hard to deliver increased support to grieving children at school (www.grievingstudents.org).

Engaging and RE-engaging Students and Families

FROM CENTER AT UCLA ‑ 2015 Initiative*

Engaging and Re-engaging Students and Families

Enhancing motivation is a central concern in all efforts to improve schools. That is why engagement and re-engagement are foundational considerations in unifying and developing a comprehensive and equitable system of learning supports.

So, as part of the 2015 National Initiative for Transforming Student and Learning Supports,* we are widely providing free and easy access to the Center’s continuing education modules on Engaging and Re-engaging Students and Families. See

>Module I: Motivation: Time to Move Beyond Behavior Modification-- http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/engagei.pdf

>Module II: Strategic Approaches to Enhancing Student Engagement and Re‑engagement -- http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/engageii.pdf  

>Module III: Enhancing Family Engagement and Re‑engagement --http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/engageiii.pdf  

>Module IV: Embedding Engagement and Re‑engagement into a Unified and Comprehensive System of Student and Learning Supports –

http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/engageiv.pdf  

Feel free to adapt these resources. Consider ways they can be offered for continuing education credit.

The set of four modules provides a perspective on motivation that goes beyond mainly reinforcing and enforcing behavior. The emphasis is on:

•        expanding understanding of engagement, re‑engagement, and intrinsic motivation in the context of school improvement and school climate

•        highlighting strategic approaches to engaging and re‑engaging students, with special attention to avoiding over‑reliance on extrinsic reinforcers and minimizing practices that can produce reactance

•        engaging and re‑engaging families by attending to differences among families and other primary caretakers with respect to resources, motivation and needs, and barriers to involvement with the school

•        stressing that teachers can't and should not be expected to do it all alone. Rather their work needs to be embedded into a unified and comprehensive system of learning supports and that system should be built with a view to engaging and re‑engaging students, families, and all the professionals who have a stake in improving schools.

*For more on the 2015 National Initiative for Transforming Student and Learning Supports, go to http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/newinitiative.html .

 The initiative stresses that: Equity of opportunity is fundamental to enabling civil rights; transforming student and learning supports is fundamental to enabling equity of opportunity and promoting whole child development.

If you have questions or want some assistance, contact Ltaylor@ucla.edu  or adelman@psych.ucla.edu

Mindsets and Behaviors Resources

During our last Counselor Connection, I shared information on Mindsets and Behaviors. Some of you had asked that I video that session and I did. Here is a link to that presentation. There are some resources available as you do your work in this area -- here is a link to some other resources. Be advised----this is a google folder, so download what you want to your computer. If you update or change it at all, it changes it for the 200 people who have access to that folder

Join ASCA

Have you been putting off joining ASCA? Here's your incentive:
Show the world you're a SCHOOL counselor, not a "guidance" counselor.Join or renew by Jan 31, 2016, using the promo code ASPC and get this shirt for as our thank you. (Offer for professional members renewing annually only.) Not up for renew? No problem. Simply renew now, and we'll add a full year onto your expiration date. Just want a t-shirt without renewing? Click hereto order.

Counselor PD - December 2

For those of you who have signed up for or are thinking about Counselor Connection on December 2, our agenda has changed a bit -- here is the plan:

8:00–8:30 am - Networking

8:30-11:30 am - Issues and Updates in School Counseling

·      High School Feedback Reports – not just for high schools

·      Update on CCR Definition

·      CCR Supports K-12

·      Networking Opportunity – break

11:30-12:30 – Lunch on your own

12:30-3:30

·      Amy Steenhoek – DMACC Regional Intermediary contact – what supports can you expect from her group

·      Marcela Hermosillo – Supporting underrepresented populations post-high

While the morning is designed for K-12; the afternoon focus will be on HS counselors. Feel free to come to whatever works for you!

Bullying Resources-Survey

 As districts work to address bullying and harassment, one of the most effective ways to address bullying and harassment is to survey students. Attached here is a page of 13 questions from the Iowa Youth Survey (IYS) that may be used on an annual basis to gauge the climate and culture in a building. The IYS is free for noncommercial use. Your district may administer the IYS or a variation of the IYS, as long as the following guidelines are met: 

1. Please reference the IYS, along with the copyright (©The University of Iowa) in order to help guarantee that the IYS remains free. 

2. Do not reference the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE), the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Do not state or infer that use of the survey is endorsed by IDOE, IDPH, or the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. 

3. Know that the person or organization administering the IYS or IYS variation is legally responsible for the administration and should consult with legal counsel to ensure that survey administration complies with federal and state laws, including issues of consent. 

In addition to the survey, a toolkit is available to guide the discussion when reviewing results.

Interesting study--Social Skills Matter

Soft Skills Over Strictly Academics

Study Examines Kindergarteners -- Twenty Years Later

Every teacher has wondered how the students in front of them will turn out. Who will be the doctors? Who will be the teachers? A new study dug up test scores and social surveys about 800 kindergartners in 1991 and found out what predicts future success. See what the study found here. Hint: social skills matter (Porter,Upworthy.com). 

It's Scholarship Time!! Here are two!!

Please share with your Journalism &/or English teachers.

 Here is a link to the annual Society of Professional Journalists’ high school scholarship essay contest.

 

http://www.spj.org/a-hs.asp

KEEP IOWA BEAUTIFUL ANNOUNCES HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS

Keep Iowa Beautiful offers five $1,000 scholarships to Iowa high school seniors in 2016!  Students across Iowa who plan to enroll in an Iowa college or university majoring in community, sociology or environmental science-related fields are eligible to apply. 

“KIB seeks to foster positive values in younger generations and reinforce them in older generations. We encourage respect for home, neighborhood, community and state,” said Gerry Schnepf, KIB Executive Director.  “KIB serves as a key resource for educating youth on the importance of environmental stewardship and community betterment.”

“My dad recognized from the beginning that Keep Iowa Beautiful encourages youthful idealism and fosters youth service to community. This scholarship program is a great tribute to my Dad,” said Jay Byers, son of Bob Byers.  In memory of Bob’s dedication to young people and environmental concerns, KIB and the Byers family established the Byers Scholarship Environmental Fund. 

To apply, students can complete the application on-line at www.keepiowabeautiful.com/grants/byers byJanuary 8, 2016.  All applicants will be notified of the results in March. Awards will be presented at an award ceremony in the Governor’s Office at the State Capitol in Des Moines in April. 

Please contact Martha McCormick, KIB Education Consultant with questions at e-mail NextStepAdventure@mac.com

About Keep Iowa Beautiful

Keep Iowa Beautiful was established in 2000 by Co-Founders Robert D. Ray and Donald F. Lamberti becoming the 23^rd State Affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.   It is a 501c3 charitable organization working with Iowa citizens, neighborhoods and communities in improving the economic vitality and cultural health of our State.  KIB empowers Iowan’s to have a greater commitment in building pride and respect in the places we live.  For additional information, visit www.keepiowabeautiful.com.

Meet the SSP Recorded Webinar (IHAPI)

Meet the SSP – Your Flexible Guideways Alternative:  http://bridges.adobeconnect.com/p3unjbgsd5r/

Please contact Lesley if you have any questions.

Lesley Franklin

US and Canadian Regional Sales Manager 
Phone: 800-281-1168 X 4290

Cell: 250-317-5209

Email: lfranklin@xap.com 

Web: www.xap.com 

National Guard Scholarship

The Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary has a scholarship opportunity available. For information on the scholarship itself, please click here. For the scholarship application, please click here.

Suicide Resources

This summer a committed group of school counselors and administrators connected to put together some resources for different groups in schools around the difficult topic of suicide. We recognize that there are many resources out there, but these are meant to be a beginning.

Suicide Prevention, Signs and Response:  A Handbook for School Counselors

Suicide Prevention, Signs and Response:  A Handbook for School Staff

Suicide Prevention, Signs and Response:  A Handbook for District Office

Suicide Prevention, Signs and Response:  A Handbook for Families -- Please note that this handbook should not be simply handed to families, but rather select the appropriate pages to share.

A big thank you to those who helped with the writing and compilation of these resources!!!

ISCA/ICAN Free Webinar

Please register for ISCA/ICAN Webinar Series: Navigating Mental Health Issues as a School Counselor
Nov 11, 2015
3:30 PM
Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7242989235887833602

This session will:
Review the School Counselor's professional and ethical obligation in assisting students/families with mental health concerns
Provide descriptions and warning signs of common mental health issues
Discuss suicidal risk and conducting assessments
Discuss resources

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

College and Career Readiness

College and Career Readiness seems to be one of the new buzz words in education. What does this mean? How do we build it K-12? Is this really important at the elementary level? Come and learn the answers to these and many more questions! This two day class is offered at Heartland AEA on December 11 and January 13. To register, please go to
https://prodev.aeapdonline.org/4dcgi/CN008392111601INV

Loan Forgiveness Program

Check out this loan forgiveness program – through the Iowa College Aid Commission

https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/teachiowascholar

Day on the Hill

Just a heads up -- the day on the hill date has been changed. It will now be held on February 3, 2016!!

ISCA School Counselor Leadership Cohort

Friends ~
We did not have enough interest to start the leadership cohort prior to or at the ISCA Conference. I had a few people contact me at the conference to ask about joining. So--here is what I am proposing. If you are interested in being a part of the Leadership Cohort, please contact me by or prior to November 16. If there is enough interest, we will run the group. I have attached the flyer again, but please note the date changes.

Upcoming Homeless Webinars

Registration is open for NCHE webinars during the months of November, December, and January at http://center.serve.org/nche/web/group.php. We hope you will join us for one of the following sessions:

• McKinney-Vento 101: School Access and Stability under the McKinney-Vento Act
  Wednesday, November 4, 2015 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone)
• Determining Eligibility for McKinney-Vento Rights and Services
  Friday, November 20, 2015 | 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone)
• Paving the Way to College for Students Experiencing Homelessness
  Wednesday, December 9, 2015 | 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM EST (please adjust for your time zone)
• Supporting the Education of Unaccompanied Homeless Students
  Friday, December 11, 2015 | 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone)
• Trauma in the Classroom: Minimizing Disruptions to Learning
  Monday, January 11, 2016 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM EST (please adjust for your time zone)
• Paving the Way to College for Students Experiencing Homelessness
  Tuesday, January 19, 2016 | 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM EST (please adjust for your time zone)
• McKinney-Vento 101: School Access and Stability under the McKinney-Vento Act
  Friday, January 22, 2016 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET (please adjust for your time zone)

Visit http://center.serve.org/nche/web/group.php for complete webinar descriptions or to register for any of the above sessions. Of note, NCHE is offering its Trauma in the Classroom webinar for the first time since the Spring. Also, with the release of the 2016-2017 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in January, NCHE will be hosting its Paving the Way to College webinar to help equip you with needed information for the college-bound youth experiencing homelessness whom you serve.

IHAPI

Friends --

Here is some information regarding IHAPI

Webinar for beginners --

Topic: I Have A Plan Iowa - Overview for Beginners

Time: Nov 12, 2015 3:30 PM (GMT-6:00) Central Time (US and Canada)

 Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://IDOE.zoom.us/j/150389651

This week schools in your service area are attending the Iowa School Counselors Conference.  Some of them stopped at the IHAPI booth to say how much they love the site.  We are excited to be able to tell these districts that the IHAPI site will be accessible for all Iowa districts next school year.  As one of your counselors said…”Don’t worry, be IHAPI” and “I cherish I have a Plan” so there are many raving fans in your area and in others in the state.   

It was suggested that I contact you and share with you our pricing which is attached. Obviously with the Iowa State Legislature not funding IHAPI after June 2016, the cost will now will fall to the districts.  They are making budget decisions in the next coming months so the timing is perfect.   The decision to keep the IHAPI portal live is good news to many districts who will NOT lose all the work the students have completed to prepare for their path to graduation and meeting the state mandates. 

I am here to help should you or others have questions.    If districts would like a written price quote for budget planning, you can send them my contact information.   

Best regards,

Lesley 

Lesley Franklin

US and Canadian Regional Sales Manager 
  

Phone: 800-281-1168 | Cell: 250-317-5209

Web: www.xap.com | Email: lfranklin@xap.com | Fax: 888-349-3437