January 11, 2023 edition

Welcome Back and Happy New Year

 (message from CEO Sharon Vigil)

I have entered my fourth month as your CEO, and our Board Chair last week closed out my 90-day plan. The closeout included interviews with the Executive team to gain their perspective on the last 90 days, and we audited my 90-day plan for successes, challenges, and completion. I am happy to announce that I learned a lot and that I completed 95% of my 90-day plan goals. The rest of the goals will be embedded in the CEO work plan, which is currently in the feedback stage. Click here to read the full message.

Share appreciation and gratitude for a fellow CIS employee. Giving a shout out is a great way to recognize an individual or group for their extra effort and talent, and to contribute to a culture of appreciation, community, and kindness.  

Nominate someone for Employee Excellence. Click here for the form and here to learn about employee recognition & appreciation at CIS of Central Texas. 

The next In the Know agency-wide update will be on Thursday, January 19th from 8:30-10:00 a.m. on Zoom. If you have any questions you’d like answered or suggested topics for this event, please submit by Friday the 13th end of day using this form. 

Spring All Staff Information Chat. Come learn the committee's goals and have questions answered on January 18, 2023 1:00 PM- 1:30 PM

This year we are going to send 20 employees to the 32nd Annual Texas School Social Workers conference. Click here to learn more about the event. Please discuss with your supervisor first, and then submit this submission form. by January 17th if you would like to be in the drawing for a registration. Send questions to Debra Joiner, [email protected].

Program Managers Alicia and Denaijah are coordinating a family engagement event, Spring Echo at Cedar Creek Elementary School. The event is on February 2nd from 5 pm to 6:45pm and invites families from Cedar Creek Elementary and Red Rock Elementary. There will be workshop provided for families, activities for students, and prize give-a-ways. We will need help beginning around 3:45pm up until 7:30pm (clean-up). We will be expecting families from Red Rock ES and Cedar Creek ES to attend the event and appreciate any help.



For anyone interested in participating, they can fill in this form or contact Catarina directly at 915.449.8110 or [email protected]

Welcome to 2023! The PMD team has a few helpful items to share this week:

NEW! PMD Office Hours are Fridays from 2:00-3:00pm via Teams; if you have questions or need support, stop by and chat! No need to register, the link will always be the same.

1.  PMD Role Expectations; this document outlines how PMD will work with each program team moving forward. Please keep in mind that this document is future-thinking, i.e., this is how we will work together to support launching each program’s data management in our new Apollo database. It may not be reflective of where we are at right now, but it’s where we are headed!
2. Data Calendar 2022-2023; this calendar outlines key dates for the Campus Based Services Department, including deadlines for data entry. Please pay attention to the deadlines, as the second grading period progress deadline is coming up for most campuses.
3. CIS-NAV Common Issues Guide; This 2-pager reviews the top 15 common issues found in CIS-NAV. As we gear up for spring data audits, you can use this tool to reflect on your processes and ensure that your student data is accurate and up to date. 

Click to read the most recent updates from the CISCT Leadership Team 

Meghan Williams is coordinating the Grab N Gos and can answer any questions you have.

The 2023 Teen Ambassadors of Hope nomination period is now open! 

Teens, parents, family members, teachers, neighbors—anyone can nominate a teen. Texas Advocacy Project’s Teen Ambassadors of Hope (TAoH) is a statewide leadership program designed to equip teens to influence positive change around healthy relationships and teen dating violence prevention.

AMBASSADOR BENEFITS

· Gain expertise in healthy relationships, teen dating violence prevention, and TAP’s services

· Develop transferable leadership and business skills with industry leaders while learning how to advocate and raise awareness to support victims of power-based abuse

· Network and build community with like-minded peers across Texas

· Small group discussions with other Ambassadors from the same area in Texas

· Gain lifelong support and mentorship opportunities with TAP Staff and Board of Directors

· Stand out on college and job applications by earning service hours and receiving a letter of recommendation from Texas Advocacy Project’s CEO, Heather Bellino

· Compete for one of six awards presented at the Teen Hope Awards at the end of the program

· Option to deepen learning and inform programming by applying to join the TAoH Leadership Council – a group of returning Ambassadors that make an even bigger impact in their peer group, school, and community and help plan the TAoH program (must have participated a year prior to be eligible)

· Foundational Training Track for first-year Ambassadors (topics include the relationship spectrum through pop culture, conflict resolution, how to be an upstander, leadership, marketing and fundraising skills, and more) and Advanced Training Track for second-year Ambassadors (topics include leadership styles based on personality, policy, advocacy, and more)

· Opportunity to attend TAP’s biggest event of the year, Black & White Ball, attended by dignitaries, state leaders, survivors, and more



ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

· Texas residents aged 13 – 19

· Passion for cultivating healthy relationships and preventing teen dating violence

· Civic-minded, compassionate, motivated, and open to learning and growing

· There are no term limits so as long as the Ambassador meets all other requirements and is in good standing, they may continue to serve for multiple years (we encourage it!) 

Spring AmeriCorps Site Supervisor Training will be held this Friday, January 13^th from 1:30-3:30pm virtually via Teams (this has been changed from hybrid).

• Click here to sign up for the AmeriCorps Site Supervisor Application Info Session (intended for all Program Managers interested in hosting AmeriCorps for 2023-2024).
• Click here to sign up for AmeriCorps Site Supervisor Spring Training (geared to current AmC Site Supervisors).  

The AmeriCorps Site Supervisor Application for the 2023-2024 school year is open through February 15th! Click here to review the Application Overview and for a link to the application.   

Our next Collaborative Learning Space is this Friday, January 13^th from 8:30am-12:30pm. We will be discussing Resetting/Reengaging Students & Expanding Networks of Support. Sign up on Auzmor here for the Zoom Invite and to download a calendar hold. 

Central Texas African-American Family Support Conference

Palmer Events Center. 900 Barton Rd, Austin, TX 78704. Date: Feb. 7-8, 2023 Time: 8am - 5pm

Conversations about mental health, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Come together to lift one another up and move towards a healthier future. Because, when people have a strong foundation of physical and mental health, they can reach their full potential. Join to Renew, Empower and Advocate for Lasting Change. #REALChange.

***NOTE: The conference is hybrid. You may register to attend both days at Palmer Events Center or remotely on Whova. You may NOT register for remote attendance and come in-person. You must change the registration type if your plans change. Thank you for your cooperation. Click here to register.

Mental Health and Wellness Update

INTERN UPDATE:

Spring interns are here. Unfortunately, most are awaiting next steps to start the CBC process. We are working to resolve the issues however there are factors that are outside of our control. Please remember that interns are not allowed to work with students until they have a cleared CBC. If you schedule a time to meet with the interns prior to the cleared CBC, remember they must be in “eyesight” of you at all times. They are receiving a training checklist with several hours of training that include agency overview, and skills training. We will be hosting 3 one hour workshops to dive deeper into the play therapy video, the tier 2 supports video and the practical applications of ethics video. We hope that the interns are able to start working with you and your students as soon as possible.

TRAININGS: Interested in more information about Grief and Loss and how to support students? Please watch The Christi Center’s training, “Grief and Loss” on Auzmor. If you are interested in a deeper discussion, please send an email indicating so to [email protected] and we will work to schedule this.

CEUs FOR FALL 2022 CIS TRAININGS: To those of you who attended the Play Therapy Techniques for CISters training, and/or one of the four Fall All staff sessions, there are blank CEU forms that you can download, print, and add your name. Go to Members Only, Mental Health and Wellness, Trainings, Training CEUs. This follows a similar process from the large conferences where attendees complete an evaluation and then receive a hard copy of the CEU form to add to their portfolio. These will be available for a week and then will be archived. Moving forward, CEU certificates will be generated through Auzmor. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. January 11th is the awareness day and wearing blue signifies your support. Links to additional information, resources and training.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Article written by a high school student, ” The Widely Neglected Healing Power of Music” that might be helpful as a discussion tool for groups or individual work.

The annual Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest is back! The contest aims to raise awareness of mental health experiences, challenge stigma, and provide an opportunity to express complex emotions through creative outlets. Participants may enter by submitting original, creative works in one of three categories (original artwork, writing, or photography), that draws on the contest theme “Why Does Mental Health Matter to You?” The contest is open to Texans of all ages and is judged in four age groups—elementary school, middle school, high school, and adult—across each of the three categories. The contest opened December 1st, 2022 and will accept individual and group submissions through March 10th, 2023.  

For more information, including past winners, rules, and how to submit your artwork, visit https://gallery.txsystemofcare.org.

College and Career Success Department

Click here to find a list of scholarships that are currently available to Seniors! This link will be updated throughout the school year as more scholarships become available. If you and your Senior would like some support completing any scholarship application, please reach out to Jami Herrera with the College and Career Success Department at [email protected]

Conferencia "Somos El Futuro"

We Are the Future Conference 2023

The Somos el Futuro conference focuses on empowering young women of color together to learn about leadership, mental health, entrepreneurship, education, and workforce development. Our mission is to provide resources, jobs, knowledge and understanding for young women of color in Texas that are about to graduate college and enter into the workforce.

DATE: Saturday, February 25th, 2022 

TIME: 9:30am - 4:30pm 

LOCATION: St. Andrews Episcopal School

ADDRESS: 5901 Southwest Pkwy, Austin, TX 78735

Sign Up Here!

Transforming Trauma with 

Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT)

Presented by Dr. Sue Johnson and Dr. Leanne Campbell 

January 26th, 2023 from 9:00am – 5:00pm CT 

This training will give you evidence-based interventions and practical clinical tools to help your clients access and move through trauma-related emotions – so you can be confident working with even the most complex trauma cases. 

When you register today, you’ll get instant access to... 

• A full day of FREE training led by master trainer Leanne Campbell and me 
• The complete set of course materials 
• On-demand access to the recording for 14 days 
• And the opportunity to get your questions answered live during the training  

This unique EFIT training may not come again, and space is limited! 

>>Get all the details and register here

The winners of the Apple drawing for a CIS Hoodie are

Makayla Barrientos and Perla Huerta!  

Pictures from the Hispanic Bar Association Holiday Party for Care Coordination.

San Marcos Squad joined by Sara, Lindsay, Barbara, Ezra and Samantha for January team meeting at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos. 

Apollo Launch Team breakfast to appreciate the time and thought partnership of the participants -- Amanda, Karen, Emily D., Emily S., Raymond, Amara, Sara, Samantha, Sierra, Maria and not pictured – Ky, Jami, Erica and Christy M.

Program Manager Kimberly Shaheen hosted a "Give Me A Break" event for teachers at Sadler Means YWLA. Build your own Holiday Parfait!

Denaijah Mitchell, Catarina Silva, Alicia Garza, Laura Stradling and Chief (Divine Canines) with some of the $460 worth of gifts sponsored by a donor, who also graciously contributed additional gifts in kind for several of our Bastrop Families!

Program Manager Marianna Martinez making Santa Masks at Andrews Elementary with first graders during a reading activity.

Dorothy Garza and Xavier DeGrate represented CISCT on a panel at this year’s Leadership Circle event.

New Staff Workshop Virtual Holiday Fun! New Staff ended the year off with a reflection activity and holiday games. Saying goodbye to 2022 and Welcome 2023!

Overton Elementary Program Manager Makayla Barrientos partnered with Pasos for Oak Cliff to distribute over 65 pair of new name brand shoes to families from Overton, Harris, Barbara Jordan and Norman-Sims Elementary Schools.

Jess Olivares of the Youth Enrichment Department hosted the first of many Teir 1 District Events. CIS staff, volunteers and partners came out to Booker T Washington and Meadowbrook SmartKids sites to build community with CIS students and families.

Communities In Schools of Central Texas surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.