Indian River School District Special Outreach Services (SOS) Dr. Jay Owens, Director of Special Services Kim Taylor, SOS Coordinator

ABOUT US The Indian River School District, located in Southeastern Sussex County, is one of the largest districts in the State of Delaware. Formed in 1969 by the consolidation of several smaller districts, the Indian River School District serves the towns of Selbyville, Frankford, Dagsboro, Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, Ocean View, Millville, Clarksville, Gumboro, Millsboro and Georgetown. The mission of Indian River School District is to assure that students attain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to realize their potential, meet the challenges of their life choices, and fulfill their responsibilities as citizens of the State of Delaware, United States and world through a partnership of students, parents, staff, administrators, Board of Education and community.

Indian River School District 2 High Schools 3 Middle Schools Howard T. Ennis Southern Delaware School of the Arts Indian River High Selbyville Middle Phillip Showell Elementary North Georgetown Elementary Lord Baltimore Elementary Indian River Educational Complex Indian River School District 2 High Schools 3 Middle Schools 7 Elementary Schools 1 Kindergarten Center 1 Magnet School 2 Special Schools 1 Educational Complex Georgetown Kindergarten Center John M. Clayton Elementary Georgetown Elementary G. W. Carver Long Neck Elementary Millsboro Middle Sussex Central High Georgetown Middle East Millsboro Elementary

Population Demographics Total District Student Population 10,467 Ethnicity White 5,202 49.7% African American 1,308 12.5% Hispanic/Latino 3,338 31.9% American Indian 73 0.7% Asian 136 1.3% Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 10 0.1% More than one Race 397 3.8%

Sussex County Health Coalition a Catalyst for Support since 2014 Springboard for new beginnings in mental health services Provided funding opportunities (GW Carver) Education and guidance provided Consultant, Rob Schmidt Fostered an environment of collaboration Supported the development of the IRSD Mental Health Provider Team that meets quarterly and for Professional Learning Days Fostered a network with outside resources and school districts Assisted in establishing and maintaining the integrity of S.O.S. Improved Data Collection

Sussex County Health Coalition Outcomes Improves accountability and sustainability Inspires and motivates program evolution and expansion Supports Professional Learning (Suicide Prevention Trainings, Trauma-Focused Training, Family Intervention Programs) Back to School Meetings with the S.O.S. Contracted Therapists and Gatekeepers Schoology Resource Venue Collaboration between School Counselors and Clinical Counselors Attendance at the Behavioral Health Task Force (share with IRSD team)

Sussex County Health Coalition Outcomes Development of an S.O.S. Sign-in form as well as universal mental health forms Improved S.O.S. comprehensive contracts Worksite Wellness Training IRSD Crisis Intervention Plan Heroine Epidemic Support

S.O.S. MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS 15 Contracted School-Based Therapists 9 District Employed Clinical Counselors 2 Family Crisis Therapists 2 Behavioral Health Consultants 3 Wellness Clinical Counselors

Total Students Served by SOS and IRSD Mental Health Providers = 934 Nov. 2014-384 Nov. 2015- 536 Nov. 2016- 772 Feb. 2015- 445 Feb. 2016- 799 Feb. 2017- 883 Apr. 2015- 475 Apr. 2016- 894 Apr. 2017- 925 June 2015- 454 June 2016- 909 June 2017- 934

2016-2017 SEL Pilot Program at GWC Objective 1: Choose Evidence-Based SEL Program-Positive Action Objective 2: PA Senior Consultant Staff Training (Webinar with Carolyn Pirtle on October 7, 2016) Objective 3: Systematic Implementation Objective 4: Outside Support Resources, Programs and Services Objective 5: Data Collection Objective 6: Staff Training, Buy-in and Positive Culture/Climate Objective 7: Student Success Rate Improves

G.W. Carver Academy 2016-2017 school year focus

A System for Supporting Successful Learning for All Carver Academy VISION: To ensure that every student has a safe, orderly, consistent, and nurturing environment in which to learn to his/her maximum potential. CARVER ACADEMY MISSION: In partnership with families and community agencies, the Carver Academy will foster students’ development of appropriate behavioral coping skills, relevant academic knowledge, and proper motivation to facilitate a successful return to their home schools or their entry into the world of work.

Background Information George Washington Carver Academy, formerly known as the Richard Allen School, is located in Frankford, Delaware and is an alternative placement within the Indian River School District. G.W. Carver Academy has a student population of approximately 80 students from diverse backgrounds who require a non-traditional classroom learning environment. G.W. Carver Academy is proud to work with students classified as having special needs in the area(s) of learning and/or emotional-behavioral disabilities.

Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Positive Behavioral Support (PBS) is a comprehensive, research-based proactive approach to behavioral support that Carver Academy uses to generate comprehensive change for students with challenging behavior. The purpose of PBS at Carver Academy is to help improve our school climate. The PBS program includes universal strategies that are used with all students in the school and individualized interventions for students who exhibit problem behaviors.

A Collaborative Effort with Help from the Sussex County Health Coalition!

Positive Action Curriculum

The Positive Action Philosophy The Positive Action Curriculum is based on the intuitive philosophy that we feel good about ourselves when we do positive actions. The thoughts-actions-feelings circle illustrates how this works in life: our thoughts lead to actions and those actions lead to feelings about ourselves which in turn lead to more thoughts.

How It Works… The School Counselors have been responsible for lessons in small groups each week and every teacher has taught a lesson once a week which compliments the Positive Action Curriculum. For Unit 4, teachers have begun using the PA lessons! Each unit lasts about 6 weeks Positive Action is included in our school’s PBS (Positive Behavior Support) program Students will have opportunities to be rewarded for displaying ‘Positive Actions’ through their daily point sheets

Elementary Positive Action

Secondary Positive Action

Special Initiatives 2016-2017

Prime For Life

Supporting Kids: School-Based Trauma Groups Program Treatment Description CBITS (Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools) is a skills-based, group intervention that is aimed at relieving symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and general anxiety among children exposed to trauma. Children learn skills in relaxation, challenging upsetting thoughts, and social problem solving, and children work on processing traumatic memories and grief. Between sessions, children complete assignments and participate in activities that reinforce the skills they’ve learned. CBITS also includes parent and teacher education sessions. Target Population The CBITS program has been used most commonly for children in grades six to nine (ages 10 to 15) who have experienced events such as witnessing or being a victim of violence, being in a natural or man-made disaster, being in an accident or house fire, or being physically abused/injured,and who are suffering from moderate to severe levels of PTSD symptoms. Preliminary versions of the CBITS program have been used in children as young as eight years old

IRSD Special Education Week

Storytelling with Ragghi “Stories are the first form of teaching. Often it creates a bond within communities and classrooms. Stories define us, shape us, control us, and help to make us…we will carefully choose the stories and shape a message within each story to hopefully befit the needs of the Carver Academy students and their grade level. As we select the stories and lessons for making positive choices/positive actions to be used within their daily surroundings as social and emotional learning to create a healthy classroom culture by helping students develop skills to manage their reactions, resolve conflicts and craft responsible decisions.” ~Ragghi Rain

Future Needs/Goals Identified by S.O.S. Team & Clinical Counselors Trauma Focused Schools and how to manage trauma based behaviors trainings Social and Emotional Learning Programs in our schools Funding for the Beck Suicidal Ideation Assessments Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program Materials for the schools Family involvement and family unity programs After School Prevention Programs Mental Health Staff Trainings to increase awareness of appropriate management and responses Support at GW Carver Academy to continually nurture the culture of the school Heroine Epidemic and Substance Abuse Programs/ Trainings

THANK YOU Sussex County Health Coalition for Supporting Indian River School District Students! YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!