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Reengagement / Open Doors Compliance

Case Management - Is your Case Manager qualified?

Featured Compliance Element: South Sound Career Link

Does Your Case Manager have the right qualifications? Are they performing the right tasks? 

[WAC 392-700-085]: All case management staff will have at least:

• a bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, education, or a related field; or 
• two years' experience providing case management, counseling, or related direct services to at-risk individuals or sixteen to twenty-one year old youth.

Case management staff will be employed or assigned to the program to provide:

accessible, consistent support to students through...

• academic advising
• assessments
• career guidance information
• employment assistance or referrals
• referrals to social and health services

Case management staff to student ratio...

 is not to exceed 1:75.

• Only the percent of each staff member's time that is allocated to fulfilling case management responsibilities for reengagement students will be included in the calculation.

Where and When does our case management take place? 

Answer: Onsite, Online, and Every Day! Flexibility promotes student success.

• Case management staff will be primarily based at the program's instructional site(s), but can also meet students offsite, conduct home visits, or help with transportation to appointments (subject to district staff transportation policies).
• The program will ensure that case management services and instruction are integrated and coordinated and that procedures are in place that facilitate timely relevant communication about student progress.
• The Case Manager should get to know the resources in the community and be able to connect students in a meaningful way to the resources they need.
• Case management staff will be assigned to provide services to students on a continuous basis throughout the school year, and should be available each day the program is open for students.

Don't forget! 

Your Case Manager is the KEY to the student weekly contact, and can help the student stay engaged in their education through: 

• attendance checks
• schedule updates
• career coordination
• transportation services 

Featured Compliance Element: South Sound Career Link Career Link, a high school completion program developed by South Seattle College and the Highline School District is designed for students who no longer attend traditional high school.  Approximately 200 students from South Seattle, Burien, and surrounding South King County areas attend Career Link, located on the South Seattle College campus.

The curriculum at Career Link prioritizes career exploration activities throughout the student learning experience. Programming includes:

·     Career Choices: a first quarter course required for all students
·     Job Search and Work Based Learning: credit-bearing elective courses
·     Career Week: an immersive week each February focused on career exploration, job readiness and employment opportunities for students

By inviting employers into the school and conversely, students into the organizations, Career Link increases the relevance of the classroom experience by connecting instruction to real world applications. Through these interactions, students develop career goals and chart a path to accomplishing them by building practical job and life skills.

Recently, Career Link kicked off a series of career-connected learning experiences by hosting Fall Quarter Mock Interviews. Professionals from Starbucks, Hilton, Security Industry Specialists, Inc., HMSHost, and Year Up interviewed and provided feedback to 50 students enrolled in the Career Choices class. From this opportunity, students felt empowered to seek work: while 18 already had jobs, 8 students have obtained jobs as a result of this job attainment unit, and one was hired by a participating employer.

COMPLIANCE CONNECTION: Students are working on job- and life-skills units, allowing for IAP opportunities. Weekly contact is happening through these Case Manager-organized career events.

Photo and program information provided by SS Career Link

Next month: Instruction! (a two-part series)

Liz Quayle   ALE and Reengagement Compliance Manager   Liz.Quayle@k12.wa.us   (360) 725-6106

Laurie Shannon   Reengagement Program Supervisor     Laurie.Shannon@k12.wa.us  (360) 725-4472

EVERY STUDENT READY FOR CAREER, COLLEGE, AND LIFE Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.