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

tenc

y D

river

s

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