School Connectedness for Western Mass Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions : The National Center at EDC Jennifer Kitson, Technical Assistance Specialist September16, 2013

The National Center Provides: Customized TA services A continuum of services that creates and sustains change An integration of culturally competent support An application of the most up-to-date research to practice  A framework to leverage of existing resources Jennifer to provide an overview of the National Center and briefly provide information about SAMHSA and Safe Schools Healthy Students

What is School Connectedness CDC report The belief by students that adults in the school care about – Their learning Them as individuals

What Does School Connectedness Have to Do with Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Prevention with Youth? Strong Protective Factor Research suggests students who feel connected to school are: more likely to engage in healthy behaviors more likely to succeed academically

What Factors Increase School Connectedness? Adult support Belonging to a positive peer group Commitment to Education School environment

What Best Practice Strategies Foster School Connectedness? Promote families, schools, and communities together to create an environment that facilitates healthy development of children and adolescents Offer decision-making processes that engage students, families, and school staff Actively involve families in their child’s academic and school life Provide students with academic, social, and emotional skills allowing engagement in school

What Best Practice Strategies Foster School Connectedness? (Cont’) Use effective classroom management and teaching to foster positive learning environment Provide professional development to school staff that supports the diverse needs of their students Create trusting and caring relationships to promote open communication and school, students, families and community

What Gets in the Way? Lack of Resources - Missing the right partners Time Leadership Common vision Shared commitment Data Training/professional development Agreement on approach/procedures Effective policies Missing the right partners System change is difficult and takes time

How can We Address Challenges to Effectively Achieve School Connectedness? A FEW TOOLS AND RESOURCE EXAMPLES (go to Miriam’s ppt)

Why Focus on Implementation? Implementation Gap Why Focus on Implementation? RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION PRACTICE GAP “Children and families cannot benefit from interventions they do not experience.”

2 - 4 Years Exploration Assess needs Examine fit and feasibility Involve stakeholder Operationalize model Make decision Installation New services not yet delivered Develop implementation supports Make necessary structural and instrumental changes Initial Implementation Service delivery initiated Data used to drive decision-making and continuous improvement Rapid-cycle problem solving Full Implementation Skillful implementation System and organizational changes institutionalized Child and family outcomes measurable (c) Dean Fixsen and Karen Blase, 2004

Improved Outcomes for Students Effective Health Promotion and Violence Prevention Approaches Performance Assessment (Fidelity) Coaching Systems Intervention Training Facilitative Administration Competency Drivers Organization Drivers Integrated & Compensatory There are two categories of Implementation Drivers: Competency and Organization. When these core components are in place they provide the support to a successful implementation that will be sustained. Competency Drivers are mechanisms that help to develop, improve, and sustain one’s ability to implement an intervention to benefit students. Competency Drivers include: Selection, Training, Coaching, and Performance Assessment Organization Drivers are mechanisms to create and sustain hospitable organizational and systems environments for effective educational services. Organization Drivers include: Decision Support Data System, Facilitative Administration, and Systems Intervention PD is not a panacea to address every problem PD must be housed in a systems to support this effective practices resulting in successful sustainable student outcomes. Selection Decision Support Data System Leadership Adaptive Technical © Fixsen & Blase, 2008

PromotePrevent Resources/Tools http://www.promoteprevent.org/ What is Being Done to Address this Issue? Resource Mapping Tool Where Does Our Work Intersect? Systems Integration Tool Positive School Discipline – Website Interactive Online Course Team User Guide

Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2009. www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth National Center for School Engagement http://www.schoolengagement.org/

Resources (cont’) Promote Prevent resources http://www.promoteprevent.org/ 3 Bold Steps Positive School Discipline Preventing Bullying Information Sharing PAX Good Behavior Game

Resources (cont’) National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) Stages of Implementation – Implementation Science http://implementation.fpg.unc.edu/resources/stages-implementation-analysis-where-are-we Safe Supportive Learning http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/ National School Climate Center http://www.schoolclimate.org/  

Q&A Question and Answers.