PLSCN Update
Prairie Lakes School Counselor Network - December Edition
Invitation to Apply: STOP Grant and MVP
The Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) is partnering with UNI's Center for Violence Prevention, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and DHS to provide:
(1) training for school personnel to respond to threats of violence and prevent violence on campuses,
(2) training for school officials to respond to mental health crises, and (3) education and awareness for students with the intent to prevent violence.
Read more below ...
Cyber Monday is now Cyber WEEK!
For those of you who are aware of the books and resources available through the Beyond Consequences Institute, you know how big the following deal is:
Heather Forbes’ Cyber Monday sale has become Cyber Monday WEEK! Simply enter the code CYBERMONDAY where it asks for Coupon/Gift Certificate and your 40%* discount will automatically be applied.
Even more sales shared below!
You're invited: PLSCN Advisory Council
RSVP at bottom of newsletter!
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Marianne Williamson
STOP School Violence Prevention and Mental Health Training Grant
The STOP School Violence Iowa Grant seeks to work with up to 42 Iowa secondary schools across multiple AEAs during the three-year grant period. As a result, approximately 168 school personnel and community partners will be trained in the STOP Grant components consisting of training in the Spectrum of Prevention Framework, the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) model and Youth Mental Health First Aid program. Successful school applicants will be clustered into groups, or cohorts, of seven schools. Each cohort will have 5-6 representatives from each school grouped in the cohort. The cohorts will be invited to participate in the training components associated with the STOP School Violence Iowa Grant. As a result of this training, it is anticipated that approximately 2,500 secondary student leaders from all participating schools will be recruited by their respective schools to serve as student mentors in their buildings. Through the STOP Violence Iowa Grant the student mentors will receive training in the MVP model and on mental health awareness through Student Leadership Summits. Cohorts will be organized and assembled as follows: three in 2018-19, two in 2019-20, and one in 2020-21.
What is Mentors in Violence Prevention? MVP is a widely acclaimed leadership program that motivates both men and women to play a central role in solving problems that historically have been considered “women's issues:” rape, relationship abuse, sexual assault, and harassment. When high schools adopt this program, upperclassmen are trained as mentors to lead authentic discussions with underclassmen around these sensitive topics. A set of ten questions is used to walk through scenarios that guide them in the direction of knowing and becoming more confident in taking an "upstander" approach with more empathy and maturity. School districts who have implemented MVP have seen improvements in culture and climate, emotional and physical safety, student to student relationships, and declines in violence and behavioral referrals. To learn more about this opportunity and for support in submitting an application for your district, please do not hesitate to email Courtney. It sounds like they hope to have 7 districts in two separate AEAs in this round of cohorts and I'd love for seven of our districts to be selected!
Addressing Executive Functioning w/ Dr. Kaye Otten
Prairie Lakes will host a workshop designed to offer ALL educators a proactive approach for targeting these skill deficits through various instructional strategies. It will be held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 17 at the PLAEA office in Pocahontas. Lunch will be on your own.
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2019, 09:00 AM
Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, Northeast 6th Street, Pocahontas, IA, USA
Make it OK Ambassador Training
Make It OK is a community campaign to reduce stigma by starting conversations and increasing understanding about mental illness.
Make It OK is here to help educate Iowans and get the conversations going. Start by learning what mental illness really is. Then, find out what to say and not to say when someone opens up to you. You can also help others by sharing your own story to help people know they aren’t alone.
We need your help to stop the silence on mental illness in central Iowa. Sign up to join us as a Make It OK Ambassador. Anyone can become a Make It OK Ambassador - you do not have to be an expert on mental health but someone who enjoys connecting, engaging, educating and promoting mental health awareness.
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2020, 10:00 AM
United Way of Central Iowa, 9th Street, Des Moines, IA, USA
Cyber Week and other December Sales ...
Who doesn't love amazing resources and SALES!??!?
As noted at the top, Heather Forbes has extended her 40% off sale throughout this entire week! Besides the Help for Billy books and Trauma-Informed Schools Administrator's Guide, all of her parent resources are on sale as well. Check it out! If you are unsure of school funding available, consider looking towards your At-Risk budget as there might be some unspent $$$ sitting around …
SweetHoldings is currently offering a Buy and Tee Get Any Tee FREE Sale on Etsy ...
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OVER $35*
GET 15% OFF ALL SEL KITS COUPON CODE: EDUCATION
Free gift and Free shipping with every order until December 9th
Save 20% with Promo Code N196A7 at Corwin.com until December 31, 2019
Always FREE on the ASCA site ...
Career Conversation Starters
Promising Practices for Successful High School Apprenticeships
If you've come across some sales recently, feel free to SHARE!
RAMP-ing up to be Future Ready - ROUND TWO
Round two of our PLSCN RAMP-ing up to be Future Ready takes is scheduled to take place on February 6th. Lessons learned from day one in November: Our districts are in many different places and need very different things ... but we ALL appreciate the time to network and brainstorm with others! Although there will still be structure surrounding developing a comprehensive school counseling program and connecting to the Future Ready vision, we will be sure to consciously schedule networking and conversation time as well. We look forward to our Advisory Council to provide insight into planning for day #2! (hint hint ;) )
Register for Course #181444 via the:
Thursday, Feb 6, 2020, 08:30 AM
Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, Northeast 6th Street, Pocahontas, IA, USA
PLAEA School Counselor Supports:
Social-Emotional Behavioral Health Coordinator
Mark Shea; mshea@plaea.org
Postsecondary Readiness Lead