School Connectednessfor Western Mass Substance Abuse Prevention
Coalitions
: The National Center at EDC
Jennifer Kitson, Technical Assistance Specialist
September16, 2013
The National Center
Provides:• Customized TA services• A continuum of services that creates and
sustains change• An integration of culturally competent support• An application of the most up-to-date research
to practice • A framework to leverage of existing resources
What is School Connectedness
• CDC report • The belief by students that adults in the
school care about –– Their learning– Them as individuals
What Does School Connectedness Have to Do with Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Prevention with
Youth?
• Strong Protective Factor
• Research suggests students who feel connected to school are:
– more likely to engage in healthy behaviors
– more likely to succeed academically
What Factors Increase School Connectedness?
• Adult support
• Belonging to a positive peer group
• Commitment to Education
• School environment
What Best Practice Strategies Foster School Connectedness?
• Promote families, schools, and communities together to create an environment that facilitates healthy development of children and adolescents
• Offer decision-making processes that engage students, families, and school staff
• Actively involve families in their child’s academic and school life
• Provide students with academic, social, and emotional skills allowing engagement in school
What Best Practice Strategies Foster School Connectedness?
(Cont’)
• Use effective classroom management and teaching to foster positive learning environment
• Provide professional development to school staff that supports the diverse needs of their students
• Create trusting and caring relationships to promote open communication and school, students, families and community
What Gets in the Way? • Lack of Resources -
– Time– Leadership– Common vision– Shared commitment– Data– Training/professional development– Agreement on approach/procedures– Effective policies
• Missing the right partners• System change is difficult and takes time
How can We Address Challenges to
Effectively Achieve School Connectedness?
A FEW TOOLS AND RESOURCE EXAMPLES
Implementation Gap
RESEARCH PRACTICEGAP
Why Focus on Implementation?
IMPLEMENTATION
“Children and families cannot benefit from interventions they do not experience.”
Exploration• Assess needs• Examine fit and
feasibility• Involve
stakeholder• Operationalize
model• Make decision
2 - 4 Years
Installation
•New services not yet delivered
•Develop implementation supports
•Make necessary structural and instrumental changes
Initial Implementation
•Service delivery initiated
•Data used to drive decision-making and continuous improvement
•Rapid-cycle problem solving
Full Implementation
Skillful implementation
System and organizational changes institutionalized
Child and family outcomes measurable
© Fixsen & Blase, 2008
Performance Assessment (Fidelity)
Coaching
Training
Selection
Systems Intervention
Facilitative Administration
Decision Support Data System
Integrated & CompensatoryC
ompe
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y D
river
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Com
pete
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Driv
ers Organization D
rivers
Organization D
rivers
LeadershipLeadership
Adaptive Technical
Improved Outcomes for Students
Effective Health Promotion and Violence Prevention Approaches
PromotePrevent Resources/Tools
http://www.promoteprevent.org/•What is Being Done to Address this Issue?
– Resource Mapping Tool
•Where Does Our Work Intersect? – Systems Integration Tool
•Positive School Discipline – – Website– Interactive Online Course– Team User Guide
Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2009.
www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth
National Center for School Engagement
http://www.schoolengagement.org/
Resources (cont’)Promote Prevent resources
http://www.promoteprevent.org/
•3 Bold Steps
•Positive School Discipline
•Preventing Bullying
•Information Sharing
•PAX Good Behavior Game
Resources (cont’)National Implementation Research Network (NIRN)
Stages of Implementation – Implementation Science
http://implementation.fpg.unc.edu/resources/stages-implementation-analysis-where-are-we
Safe Supportive Learning
http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/
National School Climate Center
http://www.schoolclimate.org/
Q&A