North Carolina Public Schools - School Social Work April Update
North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 04/11/2023 01:17 PM EDT
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Child Abuse Prevention Month – April 2023
Every season is a new opportunity to build sturdy foundations for North Carolina’s children and to nurture positive childhoods across the state. North Carolina’s future prosperity requires the healthy development of our children. That’s why all adults have a stake in preparing North Carolina’s children to grow up to be healthy thriving members of our communities. We invite you to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month this April to nurture positive childhoods! Because prevention happens in partnership!
The statewide 2023 Child Abuse Prevention Month theme is: Nurturing Positive Childhoods Together: Prevention in Partnership.
Visit the Child Abuse Prevention Month page to download our free toolkit access free assets to help your raise awareness of effective child maltreatment prevention strategies, including:
- Social Media Calendar
- Social Media Graphics, Cover Photos, Profile Photo, Gifs, and Story Graphics
- Sample Press Release
- Sample Talking Points
- Sample Letter to the Editor
- Website Banner
- Newsletter Copy
- Email Signature
- Custom resource guides for faith communities, school counselors and early care and education providers
- and more!
Download the Recognizing & Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment one-pager as a reference tool.
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RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO SUSPICIONS OF CHILD MALTREATMENT TRAINING
Have you ever wanted to know how to recognize child abuse and neglect? This is a self-guided online training that teaches citizens and professionals the signs and symptoms to look out for with child abuse and neglect, what to do when they suspect it is happening, NC’s reporting law, and what happens after a report is made.
NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
PCANC was granted funding to provide one of our courses in Spanish with the generous support of the Governor’s Crime Commission – NC DPS. Reconociendo y Respondiendo a las Sospechas de Maltrato Infantil is now available. Technical assistance is available only in English.
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118,298 children with investigated reports of possible abuse and neglect in North Carolina from July 2021 to June 2022.
NC Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics:
28 children died at the hand of a parent or caregiver in North Carolina in 2020 (the latest data available). The number of fatalities varies from year to year and deaths result from a range of situations.
For more information: NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
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School Social Work Practice Series Mitigating Chronic Absenteeism Among Students Experiencing Homelessness The chronic absence rate of students experiencing homelessness is more than double the rate of all students, and was exacerbated by the pandemic. In 2020-2021, 41.9% of students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent, more than twice the rate of housed students (20.3%), and significantly higher than the homeless student chronic absence rate in 2019-2020 (27.3%). EHCY |
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The first of the School Social Work Practice Series will focus on issues that impact the chronic absence rate of students experiencing homeless. We will identify the exact barriers and learn strategies that overcome them. More information will be coming soon, so stay connected to ensure you don't miss all the offerings in this series.
Guidelines for Schools Responding to a Death by Suicide
These guidelines are designed to help school administrators, teachers, and crisis team members respond to the needs of students and staff after a suicide has impacted the school environment as well as when an individual student’s life may be impacted by a suicide within the family. PDF format.
National Youth Violence Prevention Week
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Each day, about 14 youth are victims of homicide, and nearly 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied at school in 2021. Youth violence is a significant public health problem. It impacts youth in all communities and can have lasting effects on young people’s physical, mental, and developmental health. This National Youth Violence Prevention Week, let us work together to raise awareness and help youth take a stand against violence. |
Get Involved:
- View and share the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) video, What is Youth Violence?
- Download the National Youth Violence Prevention Week Action Kit to find a step-by-step action plan for how your organization can engage with the community to prevent youth violence.
- Review CDC’s technical package for youth violence prevention to gain insight on prevention strategies informed by the best available evidence.
- Download our Creating Safe Spaces: Facilitator’s Guide to Trauma-Informed Programming to strengthen your trauma-informed approach to programming, including trauma experienced through youth violence.
Free CPI Crisis De-Escalation Training for Children’s and Youth Mental Health Providers in North Carolina!
A partnership between UNC Greensboro's Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships, the NC DHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services, and the Crisis Prevention Institute.
The UNCG Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships (CYFCP) and NC DHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (DMHDDSAS) are partnering with the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) to provide free crisis intervention training opportunities to children’s and youth mental health service providers across North Carolina!
CPI training opportunities will equip eligible providers with the skills to recognize potential crisis behaviors and the strategies to prevent, de-escalate, and safely respond in escalating and crisis situations.
It has been confirmed that this is open to school staff. Spaces are limited!
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, today released the North Carolina School Behavioral Health Action Plan to address the urgent mental and behavioral health crisis facing youth through key investments in our schools.
988 Is Now Live!
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988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. 988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help. Printable PDF handouts in English and Spanish explain the basics about 988. |
A Classic Tool
I wonder. I wish. I hope.
Three simple prompts that open a world opportunity to connect with our students and offer meaningful interventions. It has been around a long time, and often used to help students process their grief. I find that it is useful in almost any situation you are helping a student through. It is a great writing/drawing starter for students who may not immediately want to talk. It is also a nice tool to start to reimagine outcomes and set goals that help students progress forward. Give it a try!
FREE Webinars
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Promoting Family and Community Empowerment to Strengthen Positive School Climate The 2023 School Mental Health Virtual Learning Series continues this April! This free webinar series runs through the summer and is hosted in collaboration with our partners at the Danya Institute and the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center network. |
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April 11, 2023: Promoting Family and Community Empowerment to Strengthen Positive School Climate
3pm - 4pm EST
Barb Flis, MIS, Lisa Coney, MSW
Register
May 9, 2023: Collaboration Between School and Community Settings - Development of Meaningful and Sustainable Partnerships Between Schools and Community Partners
3pm - 4pm EST
Register
Lessons from the Field Webinar Series: Enhancing Student Nutrition and Physical Movement in America's Schools
Wednesday, April 12, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET
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April 24th: SHAC Monthly Learning Collaborative at 3:30 pm April's meeting will have updates and sharing by Cumberland County Schools and how they are supporting Adapted Physical Education as part of the Mental Health/Behavioral Health Funding. We will also have an opportunity to hear from Yadkin County Schools and their partnership with the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina to support employee wellness. - Email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov to be added to the monthly calendar invitation. |
NC CARES Provides Career Coaching to State Employees with ASD
| In recognition of World Autism Month in North Carolina (attached), the Office of State Human Resources and the Department of Health and Human Services remind state employees with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that the North Carolina Career Advancement Resources for Employees on the Spectrum (NC CARES) initiative will provide eligible employees with up to five hours of career coaching to help them succeed in the workplace. |
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To learn more about NC CARES or request coaching services, please visit NCCARES - Guidelines | NC Office of Human Resources.
Human Trafficking Training
The Center for Safer Schools will conduct Human Trafficking for School-Based Professionals at the temporary Training Center (3600 Samarcand Road, Jackson Springs) on Tuesday, April 25. The training is designed to provide a comprehensive knowledge of human trafficking, highlighting current trends and perspectives.
After completing the training, attendees will be able to:
- Describe the types of trafficking in the United States.
- Recognize possible indicators of trafficking in school settings.
- Describe the importance of utilizing a trauma-informed approach when addressing human trafficking in school settings.
- Develop a trafficking response protocol for your organization.
- Assess the needs of individuals who are at risk of trafficking or who might have experienced trafficking, and coordinate services within a multidisciplinary network of service providers.
Registration closes at 3 p.m. Friday, April 21. REGISTER
Mini-RISE
The Center for Safer Schools is hosting “mini-RISE” sessions this spring. The smaller versions of the CFSS’ signature event will be offered free and online until June. Each “mini-RISE” session will be 30 minutes long and will include a speaker and Q&A.
All sessions will take place on Thursdays from 12:15-12:45 p.m. The “mini-RISE” sessions will take place virtually through Webex.
- Trauma Informed School Safety (April 20): Register
- Restorative Justice (May 4): Register
- Emergency Preparedness (May 18): Register
- School Resource Officer Training (June 1): Register
Legislative Updates
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View the K-12 Education Office of Government and Community Affairs Update from Friday, April 6, 2023. |
Practice Alert
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General Statute HB 1168 Title Protection for Social WorkersHB 1168 became law during the 2009 Session. It prohibits an individual from using the title “Social Worker” if the individual is not certified, licensed, or provisionally licensed as a social worker, does not hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a college or university which is accredited by the Council of Social Work Education, or has a not received a doctorate in social work. |
This is not new. Please ensure that all positions using the social worker title, holds a social work degree. This protection is for the benefit of the profession, the employee, and the community at large.
Resources & Funding Announcement
Community Schools Costing Tool
The Learning Policy Institute (LPI) released a free, downloadable Community Schools Costing Tool and accompanying User Guide to provide a means of estimating the cost of transforming a traditional school into a community school. These costs vary and may require changing practices and culture, hiring new staff members, purchasing and leveraging new resources, repurposing existing resources, and other actions. The tool is intended for use primarily by community schools initiative staff who are involved in the planning and support for community schools. It may be useful to school administrators or community school coordinators to help with initial planning and budgeting to establish or expand a community school.
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April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related issues. |
Click the image to download a
Daily De-stressing Planner
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