Effective Practices In Educational Advocacy: Navigating the School Culture Jill Patnode, Director Puget Sound Educational Service District

One-fifth of all year-olds in south King County are disconnected from school and work 20,000 Opportunity Youth Court- Involved Foster Youth Teen Parents Homeless Undocu- mented The majority are poor youth of color. There are many sub-groups, with varying assets & needs: English Language Learners

a partner of the King County System Integration Initiative a partner of the King County System Integration Initiative

The PathNet Initiative HOW: Access and connection to a seamless network of services that support and advance education and employment goals. HOW: WHAT: The PathNet Initiative is a regional and state model of service delivery that reengages juvenile justice involved out-of-school youth through best practices in systems integration and interagency collaboration.

King County Systems Integration Initiative (KC-SII): Uniting for Youth Group of state and local youth-serving agencies Group of state and local youth-serving agencies Improve the coordination and integration of services for youth involved in multiple systems Improve the coordination and integration of services for youth involved in multiple systems

Uniting for Youth Partners Juvenile Court (King County Superior Court) Juvenile Court (King County Superior Court) Children’s Administration, Region 4, DCFS Children’s Administration, Region 4, DCFS King County Department of Community & Human Services (Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, Public Defense) King County Department of Community & Human Services (Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, Public Defense) Puget Sound Educational Service District Puget Sound Educational Service District Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Casey Family Programs (Seattle Field Office) Casey Family Programs (Seattle Field Office) Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Region 4 Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, Region 4 Attorney General’s Office, Seattle Social and Health Services Division Attorney General’s Office, Seattle Social and Health Services Division King County Office of Management and Budget King County Office of Management and Budget

Opportunity Youth Action Plan The focus is building a robust, coordinated, diverse system of re-engagement pathways designed to help youth and young adults reconnect to education and progress towards a college or career credential and living-wage work.

Cornerstones of PathNet A current strength-based assessment A current strength-based assessment A student-driven plan A student-driven plan Connectivity to the right educational/vocational program for that student Connectivity to the right educational/vocational program for that student Care Manager Care Manager

Uniting for Youth: Purpose and Goals Improve outcomes for children, youth and families by: Promoting increased cooperation and coordination among staff from different systems Promoting increased cooperation and coordination among staff from different systems Achieving and institutionalizing greater multi-system coordination and integration at the policy level Achieving and institutionalizing greater multi-system coordination and integration at the policy level

Care Manager: -Why do you “care” about this population? -What are the characteristics of an effective “care manager” that is able to provide individualized supports to opportunity youth? Networking question #1

Strength based assessments: Describe how you “flip” deficit assessments into a strength-based approach and/or share any strength based assessments you use. Networking question #2

Student Driven Plan: -Describe the plan/assessment your agency uses? -Is it formal or informal? -What are the plan components? -Process for monitoring and evaluation of plan? Networking question #3

Education OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION (OSPI) Olympia, Washington 59 Districts 23 Districts 25 Districts 29 Districts 30 Districts 35 Districts 45 Districts 35 Districts 15 Districts ESD 101 Spokane ESD 123 Pasco ESD 105 Yakima North Central ESD 171, Wenatchee ESD 112 Vancouver Northwest ESD 189, Anacortes ESD 113 Olympia Puget Sound ESD 121, Renton Olympic ESD 114, Bremerton

Right to a Free and Public Education All students have this right All students have this right Birth Certificate and Immunization Birth Certificate and Immunization Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status NOT needed Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status NOT needed

Ready to Learn Schools invest a great deal of time and money in Curricula delivery Staff development Policies and procedures Testing Special Education Tiered interventions Everything they do is designed to support a 100% graduation rate. They are limited by time and resources.

Graduation Requirements Credits: District Specific until Credits: District Specific until 2016 High School and Beyond Plan High School and Beyond Plan Culminating Project Culminating Project State Exams State Exams Reading and Writing High School Proficiency (MSPE & HSPE) Reading and Writing High School Proficiency (MSPE & HSPE) Math EOC (End of Course) Math EOC (End of Course)

High Expectations – All Students Some Students At-Risk Highest Risk Students Highest Risk Students Learning SupportAcademic Respect for Self Respect For Others Respect for Property Engaged in School Fighting –Threats Anti-Social Behavior Experimenting with Alcohol/ Drugs Depression – Isolation Suicide Trauma at School Substance Abuse In School Reading Engaged in Learning Consistent Academic Progress Absenteeism Minimal Interest in School Homework not completed Falling Behind on Benchmarks Drop Out Failing Academic Expectations Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

School Based Intervention Resources Title IX McKinney Vento Becca Truancy Court School Counselors: ASCA Model Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Response Planning School Nurse/Health Services Substance Abuse/Mental Health Health Curricula Family and Community Engagement Before/after school Programs Social Workers, Family Liaisons Parent Engagement Extra Curricular: Scheduled Play! Community Resources

Integration with other school based programs School Policy Staff Development Program Awareness Internal Referral Process Student Assistance Team Family/Community Collaboration Program Evaluation Coordinating Student Assistance: Working Together to Help Students Learn

Learning their language… Educational Behaviors attendance/truancy unsafe behavior behavioral problems disciplinary action Suspensions/expulsions parental involvement "lost days of learning" seat time Disengaged students Tiered intervention Educational Outcomes grades standardized tests skill development grade promotion/retention graduation rates higher education Adequate yearly progress Higher order thinking

How Do I Advocate For My Client? (inside the school district) How Do I Advocate For My Client? (inside the school district) Professional closest to the student (teacher, therapist, etc.) Principal (CEO of the school house) Special Education Coordinator or Director Executive Director or Assistant Superintendent Superintendent

How do I advocate for my client? (outside the school district) Puget Sound Educational Service District Parent Support Groups Office of the Education Ombuds Advocacy Groups (ex. League of Education Voters) Legal Services (ex. Team Child; Colombia Legal Services)

Counselors Specialists Vice Principal School Security AcademicsBehavioral Discipline Principal Points of Access

King County Resource Guide Information Sharing

FERPA FERPA Education Records Education Records Directory Information Directory Information Personal Observations Personal Observations

Rhythms of a School Year UCLA Mental Health in Schools August: Prevent burnout by planning ahead August: Prevent burnout by planning ahead September: Getting a good start (transitions; welcomes; open houses) September: Getting a good start (transitions; welcomes; open houses) October: Enabling School Adjustment (early identification; classroom strategies) October: Enabling School Adjustment (early identification; classroom strategies) November: Responding to referrals (interventions; end of quarter; conferences) November: Responding to referrals (interventions; end of quarter; conferences)

December: Re-engaging students (burn-out; opportunities for improvement; anticipation) December: Re-engaging students (burn-out; opportunities for improvement; anticipation) January: A time for renewal and new starts (end of semester report cards; interventions; self efficacy; ) January: A time for renewal and new starts (end of semester report cards; interventions; self efficacy; ) February: Mid-point February: Mid-point March: Reducing stress and burnout (compassion fatigue; budgets; planning for next school year professional development; end of quarter; next year registration) March: Reducing stress and burnout (compassion fatigue; budgets; planning for next school year professional development; end of quarter; next year registration)

April: Spring is a high risk time (proms; spring fever; spring break; prevention activities; conferences*; release of Healthy Youth Survey) April: Spring is a high risk time (proms; spring fever; spring break; prevention activities; conferences*; release of Healthy Youth Survey) May: Planning for new transitions (statewide testing*) May: Planning for new transitions (statewide testing*) June: Summer and the living ain’t easy June: Summer and the living ain’t easy July: Reports and Planning (principals and admin are in schools finalizing details of upcoming school year July: Reports and Planning (principals and admin are in schools finalizing details of upcoming school year

Resources Student Assistance Prevention Intervention Manual Student Assistance Prevention Intervention Manual Educational Advocate Program Manual (PSESD & Team Child) Educational Advocate Program Manual (PSESD & Team Child) Educating Youth in Adult Jails Educating Youth in Adult Jails FACEBOOK: Educational Advocate Program FACEBOOK: Educational Advocate Program

Eligibility: Less than 21 but at least 16 by September 1 Have NOT graduated from HS AND Be significantly behind in credits OR Be recommended for enrollment by professionals from DSHS, JJ, District approved personnel or staff from agencies who provide educational advocacy services.

The 4 th Cornerstone Connectivity to the right educational /vocational program Connectivity to the right educational /vocational program In 2 minutes or less share about your agency (consider sharing target audience, location, mission, resources, how to refer, orientation dates)