The Impact of the Educational Support Counselor at SLLIS Caitie DuMontier LPC

The Grant that provides ESC in Charter Schools * The Grant provides a partnership between BJC, UMSL Charter schools and Mental Health Foundation The Educational Support Counselor (ESC) program is an embedded school mental health program using licensed mental health professionals to assist public Charter schools dealing with trauma, stressful family environments, and/or life in neighborhoods of high poverty, violence, and crime by providing a continuum of services in the school and in partnership with school staff and families.

School Social Worker Vs ESC Crisis intervention Consult with parents teachers and administrators Access appropriate school & community resources/referrals Assist students in transitions Advocate for the rights of children Provide professional development Provide Case Management services Individual Therapy Group Therapy Social Skills Mental Health Education and Consultation Assess need for hotline 12 month contract continue services over summer and breaks. Vision Van Serve as school/home/community liaisons Family court referrals/ process and follow up Consults regarding home/community factors impinging upon a student’s education Safety Street Dental Services Homeless Coordinator School Social Worker Shared Areas ESC

DATA COLLECTION Data Collection allows to determine direction of treatment and show growth 174 Students served since January 2016 Data collected Every Three Months for all Schools at SLLIS Out of School Suspensions In School Suspensions Absences Office Referrals DLA-20 SSRS

Impact: Data collected from TFS, TIS, TSS and TCS Students who are receiving ESC services between October 2017 to March 2017: Out of School Suspensions have decreased by 20 % In School Suspensions increased 18.5% ( As my caseload increases there is likelihood some of these numbers will increase) Absences increase 21.36% ( often during winter months there is an increase in absences due to weather and transportation issues) Office referrals have decreased by 8.82% Disruptive behaviors decreased by 50% DLA scores have increased by 28.4% ( higher scores means improvement)

Positive Meaningful Outcomes for Students These just a few examples of the day to day successes that we celebrate with Students: Practicing a new coping skill Communicating their feelings Saying sorry to Staff or Peer Being able to identify what makes them special Practicing emotional regulation Increased time in classroom

Case Example Student A came to school with the following behaviors of escaping the classroom, struggling with peer relationships, frequent arguments and aggression with teachers and peers, defiance of authority, and difficulty regulating emotions. Since meeting with Student A in the beginning of the school year to present day she has learned coping skills and ways to regulate emotions. She has been able to implement the new skills she has learned, processed her emotional pain, and learning positive ways to cope with emotions. There has been a significant decrease in all of these areas including going from 3 out of school suspensions for aggressive behavior towards others and 1 in school suspension in the beginning of the year to today decreasing her discipline by only 1 out of school suspension for a non aggressive offense and zero in school suspensions.

Thank you for your time  Questions?? Thank you for your time 