Download - Fessy SST Presentation (2010)
The Student Support Team (SST):
Referral Questions and Protocol
The Fessenden SchoolSeptember 1, 2010
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Definition of the Student Support Team
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The Student Support Team provides comprehensive academic, psychological,
emotional, and health support services to children of all ages. This team
works with parents, teachers, the Division Head, the Head Nurse, and the
Skills Center to understand the individual needs of a student and implement
appropriate remedial services when issues of an emotional, health, or
academic nature arise. The team is directed by the School
Psychologist and the Assistant Headmaster. Student
Support Team meetings are held throughout the academic
year and regular follow-up with parents is encouraged.
Teachers and parents may request a referral to the team by
contacting the School Psychologist.
From the Student and Parent Handbook (Revised 2007):
When to Make a Referral to the SST
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Generally speaking, a referral to the Student Support Team is appropriate
in each of the following cases:
• Mental health issues appear to be significantly impacting a child’s academic, athletic, or social performance
Affective
Disorders (5-9%)
Disruptive Behavior
Disorders (7-10%)
Anxiety
Disorders (6-18%)
Generalized AnxietySeparation AnxietyOCDSimple Phobias
Panic Disorder
ADD, AD/HDConduct DisorderOppositional Defiant
DepressionBipolar Disorder
•Explicit mention of self-harm or threat of harming another.
This may include graphic depictions of violence within
writing and/or artistic assignments, repeated reference to
school shootings, concerning comments made to others
boys, parent reports of violence/self-harm at home, etc.
When to Make a Referral to the SST
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•Recurrent physical complaints (e.g., stomach aches, headaches)that have not remitted despite the involvement of the Health
Center and for which there is no known underlying medical cause
•Asignificant psychosocial change has occurred that you feel has the potential to impact a child’s health, happiness, social life, and/or academic
performance (e.g., death in the family, serious illness, divorce, etc.)
•Anyknowledge or suspicion of sexual and/or physical
abuse involving a child, whether that child is enrolled at Fessenden or not (e.g., the brother of a student of yours)
• A pattern of unexplained absences that you feel has notbeen adequately addressed by parents or caregivers
•Learning differences (e.g., dyslexia, NVLDs) that continueto impact a child’s academic achievement despite the
prior involvement of The Skills Center or Academic Tutoring
When to Make a Referral to the SST
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•Any request for educational or therapeutic services that are not presentlyprovided by the school and have previously been discussed with parents:
What we have: What we do not have:
Occupational therapyNeuropsychological (LD) AssessmentSpeech and Language supportSocial pragmatics groups
One-to-one psychotherapy
Academic tutoring servicesOrganizational supportMathematics evaluationMathematics remedial support
Reading/writing evaluationReading/writing remedial supportFood and Friends GroupStudent advisors
• Sudden and inexplicable changes in a boy’s academic performance, social network, teacher/advisor relations,
athletic activities, or appearance that may signal the
emergence of emotional issues
How to Make a Referral to the SST
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Making a referral to the Student Support team is as easy as 123Step one: Communicate your concerns to the Division Head and the
student’s advisor (when applicable)
Step two: Request a SST referral form from the Upper,
Middle, or Lower school office
Step three: Complete the form in as much detail as
possible and put a signed copy, with your signature and
the Division Head’s, in the School Psychologist’s mailbox
located in Arlene’s office. Keep a copy for your records.
What To Expect when a Referral is Made to the SST
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Although each case is different, the general steps taken after a Student
Support Team referral is received include the following:
Confirmation
e-mail/phone call
indicating that the
referral has been
received
Coordinate time to
discuss the referral in
person with you and
the Division Head
Present information
regarding the child at
once-weekly Early
Intervention Team
Meeting
Communicate with
parents over the
phone or in person to
discuss the SST referral
and collect more info.
Full chart review and
observation of the
child in the classroom
or direct meeting in
my office
Conversation with teachers, coaches,
advisors, etc., to
collect additional
information
Develop/Discuss
interventions based
on the individual
needs of the child
and assign SST roles
Coordinate an SST
meeting with the
family and all support
players to discuss our
recommendations
Implement SST recommendations:
Follow-up with
teachers/advisors to
determine success
Allocation of Time to SST Referrals (in minutes)
8
5
45
45
60
60
30
60
120
Confirmation E-mail
Discussion of referral with you and the Division Head
Conversation with teachers, coaches, advisors, etc.
Speaking with parents
Chart review and observation
Presentation at weekly EIT meeting
SST meeting with family
Implementation and follow-up
Total Time per referral = 7 hours, 5 min
Referrals By The Numbers (2009-2010)
Total Number of Referrals = 66
20
17
10
3
12
4
Academic Concerns
Social Emotional Concerns
Attention/Classroom Behavior
Occupational Therapy
Testing Referrals
Speech Language Concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
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What should I do if I’m worried about a boy but it doesn’t seem to
warrant a Student Support Team referral?
What if a boy requests a meeting with you? Should I still fill-out the
Student Support Team referral form? Where should I send him?
Do you have regular office hours? What are they?
What if the issue does not involve a boy, but rather,
something that I’m dealing with personally?
When should I refer to the Student Support Team and
when should I refer to the Skills Center?
I made a referral, like, a week ago but I haven’t heard
anything? What gives?