JCISD: Whole Child
September 2018
Jackson County Suicide Prevention Coalition: Stomp Out Suicide
On Friday, September 7, 2018 there will be a Stomp Out Suicide Awareness Walk and Rally presented by the Jackson County Suicide Prevention Coalition. There will be a viewing of the full-length documentary film "Suicide: The Ripple Effect" featuring Kevin Hines story at the Michigan Theater, followed by a luminary awareness walk.
- $10 online registration
- $15 at the door
- Includes T-Shirt and goodie bag
Want to be an event sponsor? Complete the sponsorship form!
"The Jackson County Suicide Prevention Coalition's vision is to eliminate suicide in Jackson County. They partner and collaborate with local and state organizations and community members to provide evidence-based suicide prevention programming to Jackson County. All in an effort to increase awareness, provide education and employ strategies critical to the reduction of suicide in Jackson. The coalition is comprised of passionate volunteers throughout the community. They welcome suicide survivors, people who are living with mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders, those involved in community organizations or local businesses or anyone passionate about stopping stigma and saving lives. If you would like to learn more about the Jackson County Suicide Prevention Coalition, join them at their monthly meeting. Contact Rebecca Calkins at 517-789-2490 for more information." (information taken from www.lifewayscmh.org/suicide)
MiPHY Data Dives
- 28% of our Jackson County 11th graders report using an electronic vapor product in the past 30 days
- 4 in 10 high school students reported symptoms of depression in the past year. That equals 40% of our 9th and 11th grade students!
- 38% of students who took the MiPHY survey report having experienced two or more traumatic experiences during their lifetime. Those events listed in the survey include: death of parent or caregiver, mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, saw violence in home or neighborhood, lived with person who had mental illness or attempted suicide, lived with person who was an alcoholic or used drugs, lived with person went to jail or prison).
- Almost 50% of our 11th graders report having ever had sexual intercourse
This is just a fraction of the rich data that resulted from this year's Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) survey. All 13 Jackson County districts and nine Hillsdale County schools participated in the MiPHY this year. The survey is administered every other year to all 7th, 9th and 11th grade students. The MiPHY survey uses student responses to paint a comprehensive picture of student health in the following seven domains:
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Tobacco
- Violence (including bullying and mental health)
- Physical Activity
- Weight and Nutrition
- Sexual Behavior
- Risk and Protective Factors
The MiPHY data is used by schools and community partners to inform school improvement planning and community support initiatives, seek funding opportunities, and make decisions about strategies and interventions that will impact students.
The Whole Child Team will be hosting two opportunities to learn more about the MiPHY survey, dive into this year's data, and develop plans for using this important information. Please join us at one of the following learning sessions:
Community Partner MiPHY Data Dive:
Tuesday, September 18th
9:00am - 12:00pm
Jackson County ISD: Room 215
Who Should Attend: Community partners who serve youth in any way!
School Leaders and Staff MiPHY Data Dive:
Tuesday, September 25th
8:30am - 11:45am
Jackson County ISD: Room 220
Who Should Attend: Building Administrator, School Counselor, School Improvement Chairs, Health/PE teachers, anyone else who might use this important data!
(When you go to register, click "AM Only " if you plan to attend just the MiPHY Data Dive)
Removing Barriers to Learning!
We know that many of our students struggle behaviorally, socially and/or emotionally. These struggles often get in the way of their learning and impact their ability to reach their full potential. Through the generous funding of the Mental Health Block Grant, and a partnership with Special Education and local schools, we are able to provide mental health screening as a first step to overcoming barriers to learning.
JCISD Social Workers will utilize the Pediatric Symptom Checklist at the elementary level and the MAYSI-2 screen with middle and high school students.
Students can be identified for screening in the following ways:
- A student can self identify with a concern
- A parent can request that their child be screened for mental health
- An administrator, teacher or other school staff can refer a student based on an identified concern
- As a first step in connecting a student to on-site mental health services (partnerships with mental health providers)
- As part of an enrollment/transition protocol into, or between schools
- Prior to a truancy referral
- As a first step in the student study process
If you would like to learn more about mental health screening for students, please contact Janelle Buchler at 517-787-5903 or janelle.buchler@jcisd.org
Handle With Care: Thank You!
Jackson County Law Enforcement Officials
Thank you!
The Handle With Care Leadership Team would like to publicly thank the Jackson County Law Enforcement Community for their great vision and care for the children of Jackson County. With the Handle With Care initiative, police officers have provided our schools with a “heads up” when a child has been identified at the scene of a traumatic event. With their diligence and concern, Jackson County Law Enforcement officers have collectively provided a service to our community that will provide a huge positive impact in the lives of our children. Without this extra attention and collaboration, this initiative would not be possible.
Jackson County has collectively approached student mental health and implemented an initiative originating from West Virginia, called Handle With Care. This initiative supports children and youth in all 18 school districts, including early childhood programs in Jackson County. Following a distressing event that required an intervention from local law enforcement officers and emergency personnel a notice is given to the school so that children are “handled with care” in the days that follow. The Handle With Care initiative was designed to help children struggling with the effects of trauma by allowing their teachers an opportunity to use a trauma informed approach and to provide needed supports to a child who may have some struggles in school due to the trauma they experienced. When needed, it may also coordinate with the child’s parents so that the child can receive therapy on-site at the school. Jackson County’s Handle With Care is a collaboration of the entire law enforcement community, every public, private and charter school in the county, Jackson County Intermediate School District, Community Action Agency’s Head Start and Early Head Start program, The Great Start Readiness Program, Family Service and Children’s Aide, the Center for Family Health, Lifeways Community Mental Health and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Jackson County Office.
As of June 2018, Jackson County Handle With Care and the Jackson County Law Enforcement Community have assisted over 500 students from 18 different school districts and pre-schools. “Without the leadership from our concerned Law Enforcement Officials, this effort would not have been possible, ” stated Zoe Lyons, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in Jackson County. “We are very fortunate to have such an involved and caring police community here in Jackson.”
Attendance Awareness Month
"As early as the first month of school, chronic absence (missing 10 percent or more of school days) can be an early warning sign of academic trouble, whether a student is in kindergarten or high school." "Every day a student is absent is a lost opportunity for learning. Too many absences not only can affect achievement for the absent student but also can disrupt learning for the entire class. While teachers play a key role, everyone in the school building— from the principal to the front office to the cafeteria— can teach attendance!" (attendanceworks.org)
- Check out the Teaching Attendance 2.0 Toolkit
- Check out the Leading Attendance Principal Toolkit
Curious about how well your district or building addresses chronic absenteeism? Try out this Self Assessment Tool and make addressing chronic absenteeism a priority!
Countywide Attendance Meeting 2018-2019
Speakers will include:
- Matt Way, Prosecuting Attorney's Office
- Becca Hurst, Early Truancy Intervention for Educational Neglect Cases
- Amy Wilhelm, Bridges to School
- Jennifer Grant, Mental Health Screening and Referral
Overview of Upcoming Training: Fall 2018
Here is an overview of training topics that will be covered during the 2018-2019 school year. Some dates are still to be determined and we will be updating information on an ongoing basis through the Whole Child Newsletter. All training, once available, will be listed on the JCISD website for registration.
September 2018
- September 18, 2018: Community Partner MiPHY Data Dive
- September 24, 2018: HIV/AIDs Certification Training @ Monroe ISD (K-12)
- September 24, 2018: County-Wide Attendance Meeting (Attendance Secretaries, School Counselors/Social Workers)
- September 25, 2018: MiPHY School Data Dive & Hot Topics (Secondary)
October 2018
- October 8, 2018: Homeless Liaison Meeting (Homeless Liaisons)
- October 15, 2018: Trauma-Informed Classrooms (Pre K-12)
- October 18, 2018: Health Showcase Day (Secondary)
- October 24, 2018: Michigan Model 7-12 @ Monroe ISD (Secondary)
November 2018
- November 29, 2018: Integrating Social/Emotional Learning into the Classroom (Elementary)
- TBD November: Homeless MV/MDE Self Assessment Work Session