WI Safe & Healthy Schools Newsletter

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Available, & More!

November 2016 Updates

This month's newsletter is also available: www.wishschools.org/resources/newsletters.cfm

Still Time to Register for Building the Heart of Successful Schools Conference

The BHSS Conference is being held December 7-8-9, 2016 at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. The December 7 Pre-Conference will be on Strategies to Support Resiliency and Address Trauma Among Youth.

Keynote speakers are Pamela Black and Sara Daniel discussing the Movement Towards Trauma Sensitive Schools and Dr. Gale Gorke will be closing with Who you A.R.E. Matters. There will be 24 Sectionals on a variety of topics from Compassion Fatigue to Social Emotional Learning. Learn more and Register on the DPI's webpage: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/conference.

Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health

The first-ever Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health reviews what we know about substance misuse and how you can use that knowledge to address substance misuse and related consequences. Read the executive summary: https://addiction.surgeongeneral.gov/executive-summary .

DPI Updates-Fall 2016

submitted by Brenda Jennings, DPI Consultant

ESSA Update-The department has convened an internal work group to plan for implementation of the various titles authorized as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The new title IV-Part A, resurrects elements of the old "Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities" program, which had been part of the previous iteration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("No Child Left Behind"). In addition to allowable activities that include drug and violence prevention and promotion of school mental health services, the newly reauthorized Title IV-Part A includes expanded use of technology, access to high quality education opportunities, and many other such activities. Title IV-Part A has become a "block grant" of sorts and does not focus exclusively on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and prevention education, like the previous version of this title did. Discussion currently is on whether the appropriation will be anywhere close to the Authorized spending levels ($1.6 Billion annually) that Congress has established as a "Ceiling" for this program. That funding level will also determine whether this program can be implemented as a "formula" grant (every district shares in the funds) or a "discretionary" grant (some districts receive funds through a competitive process). These decisions will need to be made throughout the 2016-17 school year so that the program can be implemented in 2017-18 as scheduled.

The State Alcohol and Drug Abuse (AODA) Grant competition will be open following a January 11, 2017 DPI webinar. Further technical assistance will be available at grant writing CESA Shareshops around the state. Applications will be due April 21, 2017 to DPI. Further information is available at: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/aoda

When updating your school district's tobacco policy use the newly compiled checklist aligned with the E-cigarette sample school policy language from the Public Health Law Center available on DPI's Tobacco Prevention website at: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/aoda/tobacco-program. If your school district has updated your tobacco policy, notify Brenda Jennings at [email protected] and we will add it to our list of school districts on our website.

Through the Safe Schools Healthy Students grant and a recent grant and partnership with CASEL, Wisconsin is developing state level Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies for grades K-12. These competencies will align with the current Model Early Learning standards. The competencies will be available to all schools who chose to use them and will be accompanied by a number of resources to help schools fully implement social emotional learning. Additional focus will also be on developing a model for high school SEL implementation and a model for after school sites in order to provide them a method of effectively teaching and enhancing SEL skills in children in a manner that is consistent with in school SEL application. For more information contact Beth Herman at [email protected].

These are just a few of the updates from the Student Service Prevention and Wellness Team at the DPI. Read More Here.

Classroom Curriculum on Youth Suicide Prevention

Wisconsin law requires schools to educate students about suicide prevention using health curriculum. The Department of Public Instruction's Suicide Prevention Curriculum is newly updated and available for download for free on the webpage linked here: http://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/youth-suicide-prevention/student-programs/curriculum.

What's new? The newly updated curriculum includes lessons using technology and social media, a lesson on coping with loss, and incorporates the decision making skill. We have condensed the curriculum for grades 7-12, letting schools choose which area to use for middle or high school students. It still includes a lesson from SOS - Signs of Suicide, using their updated DVD's (which you can receive when attending a full-day suicide prevention training).

A special thanks to Gregg Curtis, School Counseling Consultant and Eileen Hare, Health Education Consultant, who were instrumental in updating this curriculum. A big thank you to reviewers and teachers/professors who have provided priceless feedback on this material.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Available

submitted by Carol Zabel, Western Regional Coordinator

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

With the hope of getting this information to as many as people as possible, all the Regional Coordinators for the Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Center have been trained to provide this 8 hour workshop. Watch for regional trainings being offered through the WSH Center, or contact us directly to sponsor a training in your district for your staff.

Eastern Region Coordinator Christine Kleiman at CESA 7: [email protected]
Central Region Coordinator Jackie Schoening at CESA 6: [email protected]
Western Region Coordinator Carol Zabel at CESA 10: [email protected]
Northern Region Coordinator Lynn Verage at CESA 9: [email protected]

WISH Center Workshops

Please visit our website calendar often for updates and to register for events: www.wishschools.org .

Prefer a Calendar View--See our Training Calender

PREPaRE Crisis Prevention and Preparedness: Comprehensive School Safety Planning (Open to all school and community partners)