Maximizing Support Team Resources in Diplomas’ Now Sites

This session will focus on best practices around maximizing support team resources in Diplomas’ Now Sites and why collaborating and integrating within a school site is essential to the success of the program.

ICE BREAKER!  Equilateral Triangle

 Co- Coordinate Support Staff  Active Support Team  Impacting ABC’s  Centralized Referral Process  Collaborative Climate Campaign  Integrated Team Meetings

Utilizing the entire support team to promote the ABC’s in a collective manner builds a strong team. AgencyA-AttendanceB-BehaviorC-CourseworkOther ServicesCapacity School Based Counselor Group Health -Support teachers to support this -Work with them on why they are missing (home & school) -Work with family to support attendance -Incentives to come to school -Counseling -Case Management -Review needs for medication Counseling -Case Management -Review needs for medication -Meds -Vaccines -Sports physicals -Wellness Exams -Reproductive Services -Groups No limit at this time Tutor Advocate Treehouse Check students attendance, conference with kids, and contact care givers. -Work with teachers and students -Sit with kids in class -Work with students in class 1-on-1, small groups and in the Treehouse room -Meet with teachers -Check the source -Work with care givers -Provides clothing for kids -Financial support to students covering costs for year books and fieldtrips, etc -extra curricular activities, music lesions, sports, etc. Currently working with 25 students College & Career Coach (CACC) College Success Foundation- AmeriCorps I talk about being “present” in the classroom physically and mentally to take in the information. The sessions that I have with students, offers them different tools that they need in order to be successful in their education. The biggest message I want the students to take is being accountable and taking responsibility in order to reach their educational goals. We discuss the importance of not just good grades but of how their performance in middle school carries on in High School. Specifically talking about how courses taken in middle school will be counted in their college application; as well as the overall required courses to graduate/required in college admissions. Provide/Collect information on College Bound Scholarship Provide/Facilitate College Readiness curriculum Can be tailored to different groups, time frames Provide information on specific colleges/universities Provide information to scholarship resources Link students to programs/events/activities from the College Success Foundation Etc… There is no limit as to how many students I can work with, since I’m not a caseworker. My position though, asks that I try to meet/work with at least 60 students a quarter. This quarter I’ve started to work with the East African Girls Group (15 students).

Honor the relationship Create an environment that encourages innovation Be realistic and fair Recognize that each partnership is unique Engage in active listening Know the bottom line Know the difference between “positions” and “interests” Come prepared to commit resources Take a fresh look at practices and approaches Allow sufficient time for partners to work out details

ICE BREAKER – SONG CIRCLE

Maximizing Support Team Resources in Diplomas’ Now Sites

 Awareness  Benefits  Coordinate

TELL THE WORLD *Share information with your school support teams and key players about what the ABC’s are. *Post data about where your whole school presents in the ABC’s as well as goals and place it where it can be seen by your support staff and others who visit your building. *Survey your schools partners and supports to see how they fit into the ABC framework and can impact the students they work with in those areas. *Invite support team members to EWI meetings AWARENESS

Why keep the ABC’s a secret? *One of the biggest benefits of sharing the ABC’s with your school support teams is that Diploma’s Now may not be there forever but the framework could sustain transition. *Often times when there are a large number of school supports collaboration can be difficult because their missions and visions are all different. The ABC’s can offer them a platform for aligning their resources around a central focus. *The ABC’s can serve as a bridge to communication between teachers and support staff. Your schools teaching staff may be more likely to embrace the work your support stuff does with students if they can see a direct link with that work and their academics, that work and their behavior, and/or that work and their attendance. BENEFITS

GOOD TO KNOW If your DN collab is seeking to further integrate into the support structure at your school or coordinate your support team here are some things to find out. Who is your support team? Who do they work with? Caseloads and/or demographics. What do they individually do? What does their organization do? When are they there. When can they meet? When are they out of the building? Where are they? Where can you find them if they aren’t there? Why are they there? How are they meeting/measuring outcomes? How do the impact the ABC’s? COORDINATE

Be visible and accessible!

 Encouraging All School and Support Staff to be a part of the cause. Get Schooled Challenge – Aki Kurose Video er_embedded&v=ATTfcUuR8ao

Assessment Quiz Diplomas’ Now! Team Time