North Carolina Public Schools - School Social Work January Update
North Carolina Public Schools sent this bulletin at 01/08/2024 12:04 PM EST
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January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month
This year’s theme is Activate Connections to Prevent Human Trafficking. Human trafficking cannot be prevented by any one individual, community, organization, or government. To improve the lives of those we serve, we must activate connections throughout the systems that impact individual, family, community, and societal health and well-being.
North Carolina consistently ranks within the top 10 states for human trafficking.
Major interstate highways, a large and transient military population, numerous rural agricultural areas with a high demand for cheap labor, and an increasing number of gangs all contribute to making our state a hotbed for human trafficking.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, OR coercion to compel someone to perform sexual acts or labor for profit or gain. Commercial sex involving a minor is ALWAYS human trafficking, no matter the circumstances.
Types of Human Trafficking
Sex trafficking: Victims are pressured, tricked, or forced against their will to engage in sexual acts. Commercial sex involving a minor is always a crime.
Labor Trafficking: Victims are forced to work for little or no pay. They are often trafficked to manufacture or produce products we use every day. Debt Bondage and child labor trafficking are also forms of human trafficking. Anyone of any age who is forced, fooled, or coerced to provide labor is a victim of labor trafficking.
Domestic Servitude: Victims work in homes as nannies, maids, or domestic help for very little or no pay and limited personal freedom.
Child and Youth Sex Trafficking: Minors involved in any commercial sex act. Youth age 18 and older who are pressured, forced or tricked into exchanging sexual acts for something of value. A third party is usually involved, but not always.
Resources
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NC Trafficking: Mandated Reporting & Agency Response |
National Human Trafficking Hotline
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. |
Plan to participate in National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11th by wearing blue and to raise awareness. #WearBlueDay.
Youth Experiencing Homelessness
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One in five runaway and homeless youth are a victim of human trafficking- inclusive of sex and labor trafficking. LGBTQ youth and youth who have been in foster care experience trafficking at higher rates than other youth. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse experiencing homelessness are at particularly high risk for sex trafficking |
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HUMAN TRAFFICKING ASSESSMENT FOR RUNAWAY & HOMELESS YOUTH
Free Training Seats Available!
In partnership with The School Health Training Center at ECU, NCDPI still has available training seats free for any interested PSU. The two trainings offered by Darkness To Light are below.
Stewards of Children® teaches adults practical actions they can take to reduce instances of child sexual abuse in their organizations, families, and communities.
Protecting Children From Sex Trafficking teaches you about the root cause of commercial sexual exploitation and why preventing sexual abuse is important to reducing the risk of children being sexually trafficked.
For more information, please contact ncshtc@ecu.edu.
Licensure Renewal Requirements
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Based on changes in Session Law 2023-134, LICN-005 has been updated to reflect the changes for licensure renewal. These amendments include removal of the requirement for digital teaching and learning continuing education units (CEUs) and the provision that mandatory state and local professional development may be counted towards general CEUs. |
This means school social workers will now be required to have 4 CEUs in social work related education and 4 hours of general education to total 8 CEUs for licensure renewal.
Student Services Personnel:
a. 4 3 Professional Discipline Areab. 2 Digital Learning Competencies
c. 4 3 General
See the PPT here for more information on the policy amendment that was approved on January 4, 2024, by the NC State Board of Education.
NCDPI Accepting Summer 2024 Internship Applications
NCDPI is excited to offer an internship program designed to invite both undergraduate and graduate-level students pursuing degrees in public policy, public administration, education, communication, business management, and related fields into the heart of a state government agency. All internships are paid internships. Interns can expect one-on-one guidance from agency staff, opportunities to meet with agency leaders, and the ability to contribute to the work of advocating for and supporting educators and students across North Carolina.
NC Healthy Schools at DPI has a spot open for student candidates.
Interested candidates are encouraged to review the list of available 2024 summer internship opportunities prior to submitting an application. Learn more about internships at NCDPI and find the online application here.
Legislative Updates
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View the K-12 Education Office of Government and Community Affairs Update from Friday, January 5, 2024. |
Live Grant up to $25,000
| Each year, AMCHP awards up to four organizations to replicate a practice from the MCH Innovations Database. Based on their readiness to begin replication, awardees will receive peer coaching and guidance from a representative of the practice as well as tailored assistance from AMCHP to help adapt the practice to their unique context and situation. |  |
NC Project AWARE/ACTIVATE holds a designation as a Best Practice in AMCHP’s Innovation Hub and thus organizations can apply for a grant up to $25,000 to replicate elements of our school behavioral health model.
Edgecombe County Schools has previously received an AMCHP Replication Project grant and applied the NC AWARE/ACTIVATE model to their HOPE Alternative Learning Program.
Application deadline is March 1, 2024. Detailed information is available via AMCHP’s Replication Projects webpage and the Readiness Checklist.
Threat Assessment Update (House Bill 605)
The Center for Safer Schools wants to update public school units on processes related to House Bill 605. For more information, see this letter from CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley.
If you have questions, email cfss@dpi.nc.gov.
More from The Center for Safer Schools
SRMP Training
The Center for Safer Schools announces dates for School Risk Management Plan training during the 2024 spring semester.
In-person sessions at the Training Center in Moore County will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 10; Wednesday, Feb. 7; Wednesday, March 6; and Thursday, April 4.
Online sessions via Webex will be held from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9; Tuesday, Feb. 6; Tuesday, March 5; and Wednesday, April 3.
After completing SRMP training, attendees will be able to:
- Input site-based school data to develop a comprehensive schematic diagram and plans into the SRMP portal.
- Both identify and discuss vulnerabilities and training gaps in their individual plans.
- At least once annually initiate a full school-wide tabletop exercise on the procedures documented in the SRMP portal.
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Educational Practices to Identify And Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
Evidence-based practices are central to school social work services. The EdResearch for Action Overview Series summarizes the research on key topics to provide K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students. Authors – leading experts from across the field of education research – are charged with highlighting key findings from research that provide concrete, strategic insight on persistent challenges sourced from district and state leaders.
Please view the new brief below that answers the key question: What evidence-based practices can schools and districts implement to identify and support students experiencing homelessness?
Free to Learn Miniseries
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The Free to Learn Miniseries will offer webinars focusing on evidence-based practices to prevent, address, and ameliorate the effects of bullying, violence and hate while also supporting school safety, school-based mental health, and positive school climates. |
Navigating Conflict to Support Inclusion
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET
Conflict is inevitable in any school community. Managing that conflict effectively can promote inclusivity and help build a positive school climate where all students feel a sense of belonging and can participate fully. Schools can help students and staff in addressing conflict in ways that further build relationships, understanding, empathy, and trust. This session is the third in the Free to Learn webinar series, which offers evidence-based practices to prevent, address, and ameliorate the effects of bullying, violence and hate while also supporting school safety, school-based mental health, and positive school climates.
The Community Resiliency Model (CRM) as a Self-Care Practice to Reduce Burn-Out
The Community Resiliency Model (CRM)® is a skills-based wellness and prevention program that provides a biological, non-stigmatizing perspective on human reactions to stress and trauma. The primary focus of this stabilization program is to learn to reset the natural balance of the nervous system, using the body itself. CRM skills help people understand their nervous system and learn to track sensations connected to their own wellbeing. This low-intensity intervention teaches easy-to-learn skills to manage difficult emotions which can be brought on by stressful personal or professional situations. In this 1.5 hour training, attendees will gain knowledge of concepts to understand their own and others' stress responses and the skills to regain emotional balance when buffeted by strong negative emotions.
Learning Objectives:
1) Describe how stress and trauma affect mental and physical health
2) Explore how current challenges fit into CRM's framework for understanding stress and trauma
3) Describe how CRM can protect and heal via sensory-motor awareness.
4) Explain how you can share CRM skills with others as a "CRM Guide"
February Character Challenge#KindnessMattersNC |
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"🌟 Embrace the spirit of kindness throughout February with our #KindnessMattersNC Challenge! Inspired by the heartwarming stories shared by Steve Hartman, this month-long initiative encourages teachers, leaders, students, and families to engage in daily acts of kindness. Whether integrated into morning meetings and content area classes, each day presents an opportunity for reflection, writing, and fostering a culture of compassion.
📝 Access daily videos and journal prompts to guide your reflections.
🗓️ Mark your calendars! Random Act of Kindness Day is celebrated on February 17 every year. We're extending the celebration throughout the month, making February dedicated to spreading kindness.
📸 Share your experiences on social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC! Teachers and leaders are encouraged to spread positivity by showing how kindness has impacted the school or encouraging students to create their own kindness videos—just like Steve Hartman! Educators can submit evidence of school initiatives or student work to NCDPI using the link provided. Your submissions may be featured on our NCDPI social media, newsletters, and website. Also, be sure to share your experiences on your social media using the hashtag #KindnessMattersNC!
Let's celebrate February with kindness, compassion, and uplifting stories. Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity that extends far beyond our classrooms. #KindnessMattersNC
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