Project AWARE Ohio E-Newsletter
"Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education"
January 2018
Mission: Cuyahoga Community Team works across systems to improve physical, mental, and educational needs and increase access to appropriate resources and services for youth in Cuyahoga County.
Vision: Cuyahoga County children and families will be socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and academically resilient and productive citizens.
 
Happy New Year! January may be a time when adults and youth can fall into a slump-the skies are gray, the temperature is frightful, and the long holiday break is over. January can also be a time for new motivation-setting New Year's resolutions and positive changes. There are a few nationally recognized topics for the month of January that can help you, your colleagues, and the youth in your life stay motivated to start your 2018!
   
Get Organized Month

 As we know, staying organized can be quite difficult for both adults and youth. In fact, it is believed that an average working adult wastes almost two weeks a year searching for lost or misplaced items. That time wasted can lead to added anxiety and stress, as well. Similarly, a student whose belongings appear messy can be frustrating for teachers and students who exhibit these behaviors may demonstrate poor time management and they may be at risk for poor academic achievement. While disorganization does not necessarily result in poor achievement, the goal is to help students become more prepared and productive to increase the chance for success!  Luckily, there are many organizational strategies out there to assist adults and youth with all our organizational needs!
       
 
ADDitude:
 
ADDitude Magazine is an online source dedicated to the ADD/ADHD mind. A common concern for individuals with ADD/ADHD is organization. ADDitude offers numerous resources to assist with organizing on multiple levels: from adults needing assistance organizing at home/office, to parents helping develop organization for their children, to teachers organizing their students and resources. For more information on ADDitude Magazine and to sign up for the E-Newsletter, go to https://www.additudemag.com/
.  
 
Although ADDitude Magazine is ADD/ADHD focused, the organizational strategies they suggest are universally aimed at executive functions which can help any disorganized individual. 
 
Click here for articles, testimonials, tips, and tricks to help parents instill organizational skills in their children  
 
Click here for organization tips and strategies for all adults at home and in the office     
Click here for specialized strategies for classroom teachers  
 
Additional Organizational Strategies & Tips:
 
Click here for 18 classroom organizational tips for Elementary School Teachers  
Click here to learn how 3 categorical binders can drastically improve a teacher's organizational system    
 
 
National Mentoring Month
 
Click here for the comprehensive and interactive 2018 National Mentoring Toolkit 
 
 
Local & Regional Mentoring Programs:
 
 
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
 
For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"), ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country. We develop positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young people. ( http://www.bbbs.org )

Click here
to learn more about Big Brother Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio
 
 
 
Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative
 
The Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative (CCFI) seeks to strengthen families in our community by encouraging fathers to play a more active role in nurturing and raising their children. The Initiative responds to escalating social concerns regarding "father absence" by providing fathers with access to services designed to prepare them to better meet the emotional, psychological, and financial needs of their children. The CCFI also seeks to increase public awareness of the importance of father involvement. ( http://fatherhoodinitiative.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/home.aspx)

 
Click here to see and learn how to become a part of the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative Funded Programs  
   
 
 
Golden Ciphers, Inc. Youth Development and Cultural Arts Center
 
The Golden Ciphers program will provide accountability-based services to assist in reducing DMC among juveniles ages 12 - 17 who are referred by law enforcement personnel, the juvenile court, county prosecutor, and schools as a result of law enforcement action or a complaint. The program will assist youth in understanding and dealing with the conflicts and issues that confront them in their homes, schools, and communities. ( http://goldenciphers1.com )

 
Click here for Stress in Teens: Strategies to Identify and Manage Stress Brief

Click here for Identifying & Managing Stress in Teens December E-Newsletter 


To showcase National Mentoring Month, we asked local school districts to share some of their celebrated mentoring programs.  
Euclid City Schools:
 
Always a Panther Program
Charlie Smialek, Euclid's superintendent, started a mentoring program this year called "Always a Panther." He solicited volunteers from the community and the teaching staff to serve as mentors, and students were mostly recruited by the social worker at the high school. There was a kickoff on Aug. 30th during which students and mentors met each other and participated in some get-to-know-you activities. Mentors are required to check in with their students at least once a week, either in person, through a phone call, a text or social media. Quarterly, there are get-togethers to celebrate achievements of the previous 9-weeks. After the first quarter, the activity was bowling. The second get-together is this Wednesday at the Board of Education office. Click here for more information.

Lakewood City Schools:
 
Lisa Bruening, Lakewood's Director of Student Services, shared with us a few mentor programs that exist in Lakewood City Schools. Below is a snapshot of the great mentoring efforts that are happening throughout the district! 
 
Project More & More  (Monday-Thursday 8:10-8:45am)
Community & Student Mentors
Students work on RAZ kids listening to Just Right books and answering comprehension questions. Adult and student mentors circulate the room taking turns listening to students read Just Right books then discussing the text using transferrable questions from reading workshop. Mentors wrap up the last five minutes by reading aloud a short story to the group. 
 
Book Buddies
Student Mentors Grades 3 & 5
Students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade are paired with a book buddy (K with 5th, 1st with 3rd).  Students bring books to read to their mentor, and the mentor student also listens to their buddy read. Book buddies often participate in other activities with the student they are mentoring, such as partnering for field trips or assisting during field day. 
 
Kid Talk Facilitators
Staff Mentors
Intervention Specialists are mentors in the Kid Talk process, working with classroom teachers to touch base on students needing additional support. Intervention Specialists meet with the teacher and help review student strengths and struggles, brainstorm strategies and supports to grow the student in the general education classroom and establish a plan for the classroom teacher to monitor student progress.
 
Project MORE
4th and 5th grade student volunteers complete reading activities with 2nd and 3rd grade students with reading difficulties.
 
Reading Buddies  
Entire 5th grade classes are matched with entire KG classes for 1:1 reading.  Buddies usually stay the same throughout the year.  
Entire 4th grade classes visit classrooms for students with moderate-intensive disabilities to read together.
   
Helping Hands
4th and 5th grade students have the opportunity to spend their recess time working with peers with moderate-intensive disabilities during learning time in the M-I classroom.
 
Girls on the Run 
This is done during the 2nd semester and it includes 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls who are interested or referred.  It promotes health and exercise, but also focuses on building self-esteem and developing relationships with peers.
 
Game Club 
5th Grade Volunteer program. They engage in various board games/card games, but during play they talk about social issues or concerns and how to manage conflicts.
 
Girls Group 
Can include 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade girls and they meet over their lunch time. The group tends to last 4 to 6 weeks and meeting one day a week and their theme is around hot topics shared by teachers of those grade levels based on things they see occurring on a larger scale in their classrooms.  It also involves them creating some meaningful project together that they can all take home at the end of the group period.   
 
Girls Read and Run
This program is designed to encourage reading and physical fitness in an appropriate social setting. 
 
Book Club
The club is aimed at targeting at-risk and minority students to engage them in the love of reading and connect them with a trusted adult within the building.
 
7th grade Mentor Program
Teachers identified students academically and behaviorally at-risk and meet with them weekly to provide academic support and monitor progress.   
 
 
 




Student Engagement
 
Students sometimes struggle with motivation and inattention after returning from extensive holiday breaks.  Here are some strategies to re-engage and motivate students:
 
Click here for strategies to re-engage students and tips to make holiday time off pay off.
 
Click here for an E-Newsletter addressing a barrier to learning: re-engaging disconnected students.
 
Click here to read the Education Week Newsletter article "The Secret to Student Engagement"  
 
 
Disengagement, lack of motivation, and disorganization can sometimes cause behavioral concerns in the classroom. A few behaviors seen in the classroom might be:
 
Forgetful
 
Turns in assignments late
 
Difficulty staying on task
 
Lack of participation
 
Easily distracted
 
Appears lost or confused
 
Expresses lack of caring about assignments
 
Doesn't make up missed work
 
Needs frequent reminders
 
 
Click here for PBIS Tier I interventions to help unfocused/inattentive students.
 
Click here for PBIS Tier I interventions to help students with organization.

Click here for PBIS Tier I interventions to help unmotivated students.


School Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers
 
If there are any specific topics you'd like featured in the newsletter and/or resources you need, please reach out to Mary Wise at mary.wise@esc-cc.org or at (216) 901-4201. 
 
Mental Health, Social-Emotional, and Behavioral Screening and Evaluation Compendium (2nd Ed.)
 
The purpose of this compendium is to provide a comprehensive source of information for practitioners engaged in mental health work about both no-cost and at-cost mental health, social emotional, and behavioral screening tools for children and adolescents.
 
Click here to View & Save the Compendium.
 
 
Northeast Ohio School Counselor & Social Work Network
Next meeting: January 24, 2018  12:00-2:30 pm
Topics: 504 protocols, presentation, & discussion
Click here to register
*Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome
Resources will be provided to all attendees   

Kognito Ohio Campaign for Hope: Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative 
   
 
Free research-proven training offered to educators, staff and students to: 1) recognize when someone is showing signs of psychological distress or trauma and 2) manage a conversation with the goal of connecting them with appropriate support.

Click here  for FREE Online Training/Resources for Staff & Students
 
 
Developing Your School Crisis Response Team
Provided by Cornerstone of Hope
 
Training is designed for private schools and public schools who intend on developing a school crisis team within your district, or in combination with other schools or districts.
 
When:   2/6, 2/14, & 2/21 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm (Participants must attend all three days)
 
Where:   The ESC of Cuyahoga County
 
Cost:  $300 (does include manual, breakfast & lunch)
 
Registration:   Click here for the event flyer and registration form (sent as attachment)
 
 
20
th Annual Summer & Beyond Fair: For Children & Youth with Disabilities
 
Sponsored by the State Support Team Region 3, come visit and talk with representatives from camps and organizations from around Ohio. For further information, contact Theresa Richardson at 216-446-3818 or Theresa.richardson@esc-cc.org or click here.
 
Date: Saturday February 17, 2018
 
Location: Woodside Event Center at St. Michael's 5025 Mill Rd. Broadview Heights, OH 44147
 
Time:10:00 am - 1:00 pm 
 
PAX Good Behavior Game Training
In an effort to prevent circumstances contributing to the Opiate Epidemic, the state of Ohio is launching a large-scale increase of the PAX Good Behavior Game in Ohio schools. This intervention teaches self-regulation in young people with dramatic effects on behavior, academics, and even long-term outcomes such as preventing mental health and addiction disorders.
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018  (previously listed as March 2) 
Location: ESC of Cuyahoga County
Click here to download the registration form. 
For more info, go to  www.paxohio.org 
 
Supporting Families Affected by Parental Incarceration
This is a FREE Art Therapy opportunity for families of an incarcerated parent beginning on March 3. It will occur the second Monday of every month and includes dinner. While it is free, space is limited and requires registration.  
 
Click here to read about this free service as well as the times, location, and registration link. 
 
 
Ohio Suicide Prevention
 
Save the Date(s):  The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) offers five opportunities for behavioral health professionals to obtain training in suicide prevention.
 
Click here to view the flyer for training dates and registration instructions.  
 
The OSPF also announces workforce development in suicide prevention for mental health professions.  
 
Click here to view the flyer for training dates and registration instructions.  
 
 
 
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Become a First Aid Responder and learn skills to identify, understand, and respond to youth with signs of behavioral/mental health concerns and crisis action steps to take to connect them to the resources available in our communities.
Available monthly or by schedule.
Click here for flyer.
Register Online at  www.esc-cc.org
Choose Professional Development/Calendar of Events.

PBIS Tier I Train-the-Trainer
 
The Ohio Positive Behavior Support and Intervention (PBIS) PBIS Network is currently accepting applications from Ohio school districts who wish to participate in a "PBIS District Train-the-Trainers" staff development opportunity to support the Tier 1 implementation of Schoolwide PBIS within their district, community school and/or ESC. 
 
Click here for more information and to submit your team registration form.  
Mary Wise, M.S.W., M.S.C.E., Coordinator | 216-901-4201 

Project AWARE Ohio is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education, the Center for School Based-Mental Health Programs at Miami University and the Educational Service Centers within three pilot communities: Cuyahoga County, Warren County and Wood County. It is funded through a grant received in 2014  through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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