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November was first declared as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month in 2007. Since then, November has been a time to acknowledge those children and families experiencing homelessness. As many as 2.5 million youth per year experience homelessness. Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many of these youth are also victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers, with an increased likelihood of substance abuse, early parenthood, impulsivity, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a vulnerability to being trafficked.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has compiled a list of helpful resources for parents and caregivers, children and teens, mental health providers, child welfare workers, juvenile justice professionals, and policymakers. Some resources include:

Complex Trauma: Facts for Service Providers Working with Homeless Youth and Young Adults
Psychological First Aid (PFA) for Families Experiencing Homelessness
Psychological First Aid (PFA) for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Facts on Trauma and Homeless Children

View these resources HERE.

 

 

Our NC Homeless Education Program always has resources and updates.

 

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2023 School Safety Grant

The 2023 School Safety Grant application opened Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, at noon and closes Monday, Nov. 13, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. This funding is available only for public school units (school districts and charter schools) in North Carolina.

The grant categories included in this application are Safety Equipment, Services for Students in Crisis and Safety Training. Please note that funding for the hiring and training of school resource officers is not included in this application.

School districts and charter schools can access the School Safety Grant application through CCIP under “FY 2024, Funding application: Safer Schools.”

Before applying for this grant, make sure to read N.C. Session Law 2021-180 (https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2021/Bills/Senate/PDF/S105v8.pdf) and Parts II and III of N.C. Session Law 2019-222 (H75v7.pdf (ncleg.gov)).

The funding application must be submitted at least through the “Chief Administrator Approved” status by the closing time. No exceptions.

If you have questions, please submit them to schoolsafetygrants@dpi.nc.gov.

 

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Anyone 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.

 

Legislative Updates

 

View the K-12 Education Office of Government and Community Affairs Update from Friday, November 3, 2023.  View here.

 

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Coming December 2023: HRS Toolkit

A toolkit with more details on expectations for documentation in the new electronic health record system is in development.  It will also include a FAQ and documentation examples.  Below is the DPI message about the coming SIS, however, it is the expectation that school health personnel use the PowerSchool HRS over the next 2 years until the new SIS is ready (which will also include a HRS). 

Student Information System Modernization Update

Today, the State Board of Education (SBE) voted to award a new contract to Infinite Campus to modernize the state’s Student Information System (SIS) in compliance with North Carolina state law. DPI is excited to begin the process towards implementing this new system state-wide over the next two school years, and eager to take full advantage of the more streamlined approach and supplemental offerings this system will provide to support educator and student success.

The evaluation committee—consisting of educators, a superintendent, SIS coordinators, Chief Technology Officers, a SBE member and DPI staff—worked determinedly to choose a provider whose system can be implemented efficiently while addressing the areas in need of modernization, based on the comprehensive 2019 SIS user survey. Infinite Campus proved to be the clear choice as the provider best equipped to support our needs and empower our educators and community.

Additional details will be shared throughout the implementation process. An informational website, ongoing webinars and communication will be distributed through established channels.

 

 

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National Runaway Prevention Month

November is National Runaway Prevention Month (NRPM), a public awareness campaign designed to “shine a light” on the experiences of youth who have run away and experienced homelessness that too often remain invisible. Research shows that 4.2 million young people ages 13 to 25 experience some form of homelessness each year in the United States, with considerably more experiencing crises that put them at risk of facing similar housing insecurity. Think about it this way: In a classroom of 30 students, at least one will experience some form of homelessness this year.

This toolkit is designed for community-based organizations, advocacy groups, programs serving youth experiencing homelessness, schools, and others committed to supporting vulnerable youth. It contains resources to help you successfully engage with stakeholders to build awareness of the issues youth face every day when living in the streets or other unsafe places.

FYBS Bonus Fact Sheet: Integrating Effective Practices to Identify Youth Victims of Human Trafficking. (PDF) This fact sheet provides organizations serving vulnerable youth with strategies for integrating effective approaches for conducting a human trafficking assessment. More from FYSB

 

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Protecting the Next Generation of North Carolinians

The North Carolina Department of Justice and Attorney General Josh Stein are working hard to keep kids safe.    Youth today face a variety of challenges – some that may be familiar to parents and many that simply did not exist in generations past, before fentanyl, cell phones, and social media.

Earlier this year, Attorney General Stein convened leaders from across North Carolina to discuss the challenges facing our youth and strategies to help keep them safe – and following that event, several parents noted that they wished there was a way to share this important information with others who are concerned about our kids. To do so, the NC Department of Justice is organizing a series of webinars targeted to parents, caregivers, and those who work with youth.

This series – Protecting the Next Generation of North Carolinians – will address four specific topics, one per each brief session, and at each, we’ll convene experts to provide background information and practical tips to help keep NC kids healthy and safe. We’ll cover topics including online dangers for youth, safe gun storage, and youth substance use. More information on the series is available here. 

 

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Tools For Your School Mental Health Plan

Policy Review The Pacific Southwest MHTTC created a guide and accompanying infographic that provides a deep dive into developing, implementing, and evaluating trauma-informed and compassionate school policies. Designed to be hands-on, the guide offers trauma-informed school policy examples, guiding questions for leadership, and practice suggestions to help policy come alive.

Consider using this resource as you work through the implementation of your school mental health plan.  Review and development of trauma-informed and compassionate school policies advance the Building Infrastructure and Early Intervention sections of your school mental health plan.  

*I will be highlighting resources to add to your SMH plan implementation toolbox in future newsletters. In case you missed the last one, here is a Student Re-Entry Plan Checklist: This tool is intended to help guide teams in thinking through a successful school re-entry plan following an extended absence from school and/or psychiatric hospitalization. MAKE A COPY.   This resource advances the Treatment, Referral, Re-entry section of your plan. 

 

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Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month! Also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month, this is a time to recognize the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous people.

 

 

CFWYI Funded Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Programs

National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments

A system-wide focus on workforce well-being has emerged as a key strategy toward restoring stability. This directory is designed to help districts and schools promote well-being among administrators, teachers, and other staff. Part of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environment’s (NCSSLE’s) efforts to connect research and practice on key topics, it draws on researcher and practitioner roundtables as well as an extensive literature scan to provide a wide range of resources about ways to promote staff well-being. Its purpose is to elevate activities, programs, and frameworks that are grounded in research evidence about improving staff well-being along one or more dimensions.

View the many staff well-being resources.

 

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New From Attendance Works

With Kindergarten registration just a few short months away, now is the time social workers can plan innovative ways to engage with the community and incoming students/families.  Consider using the tools provided in this new resource to help you plan for success among our early learners.

From AW: The alarming increase in kindergarten chronic absence since the pandemic reveals the urgent need to renew and deepen our investments in engaging kindergarteners, families, school staff, and community organizations during this crucial transition to school.

Helping our youngest learners and their families to overcome barriers to getting to school and re-establish a routine of daily attendance is essential to developing the social, emotional, and academic skills that lay the foundation for early school success. This toolkit is designed to support a collective approach to supporting kindergarten students and families.

What is in this Toolkit?

Early Matters is a guide for integrating attendance into key district, school, and community practices designed to smooth the transition into and through kindergarten. It includes ideas and resources to help schools, preschools and community agencies reach families with young children to promote kindergarten attendance. It offers strategies for welcoming and actively partnering with families with the goal of making attendance and learning a priority this important school year and ultimately influencing school success.

View the toolkit.

 

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National School Psychology Week, 2023: Let's Grow Together

During the week of November 6–10, 2023, schools nationwide will celebrate National School Psychology Week (NSPW) to highlight the critical work school psychologists do to help students thrive.

Thank You, State-Level Support for School Psychologists and Psychological Services!

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Social workers, don't forget to personally thank your school psychologist teammates this week. 

 

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