Emergency Safety Interventions “What Catholic School Teachers Need to Know”

Emergency Safety Interventions“What Catholic School Teachers Need to Know”

Let Us Pray… Jesus, You invite all to come to You. Touch our souls with compassion for others. Touch our hearts with Your infinite love. Touch our minds with wisdom, that our mouths proclaim Your name. Most Loving Heart of Jesus, unite us in One Spirit as we work for the common good of all students. Help us to know that our efforts on their behalf are done in Your name for the glory of Your kingdom. Amen

Presentation Objectives • To explore timeline of Emergency Safety Interventions in Kansas • To define Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) • To identify what Emergency Safety Interventions are and are not • To recognize teacher responsibilities in the use of ESI

From Guidelines to Regulations • In 2007 KSDE adopted non –binding regulations on the use of seclusion and restraint for students with disabilities in public schools. • In June 2011 the terminology was changed from seclusion and restraint to “Emergency Safety Interventions” and the definition was broadened to include ALL students. • In April 2013 regulations related to Emergency Safety Intervention went into effect for ALL students and ALL schools in Kansas.

Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) Seclusion and physical restraint is used only when a student presents an immediate danger to self or others. Violent action that is destructive of property may also necessitate the use of an ESI.

How is seclusion defined? Seclusion is not a place, it is a process. Seclusion is identified by meeting three criteria: The student is… • Placed in an enclosed area by school personnel. • Purposefully isolated from adults and peers. • Prevented from leaving, or reasonably believes that the student will be prevented from leaving, the enclosed area.

Think- Pair-ShareWould putting a student in time out be considered seclusion?

Would putting a student in time out be considered seclusion? Answer: No, time out is a behavioral intervention in which the student is temporarily removed from a learning activity without being confined or isolated in an enclosed area.

Think- Pair-ShareWould a student who is serving in-school suspension meet the criteria for seclusion?

Would a student who is serving in-school suspension meet the criteria for seclusion? Answer: No, while in-school suspension isolates a student from his or her peers, the student is not isolated from adults. Further, the student is free to go to the restroom and/or get a drink of water as needed.

Definition of Restraint Physical restraint is the use of bodily force to substantially limit a student’s movement.

Physical Restraint Physical restraint does not include physical escort.

Physical Restraint Physical restraint should only be used if the child’s behavior presents an immediate danger to themselves or others.

Prohibited Types of Restraint • Prone (face down) • Supine (face up) • Physical restraint that obstructs the airway of students • Physical restraint that impacts a student’s primary mode of communication • Chemical restraint • Mechanical restraint

ESI is not discipline Seclusion or restraint should never be used as punishment or discipline (e.g. placing a student in seclusion for out of seat behavior), as a means or coercion or retaliation, or as a convenience. (Principal 6, U.S. Department of Education, Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document, Washington, D.C., 2012)

ESI is NOT a tiered intervention. • In MTSS (or any system or support), tiers focus on prevention. • Tiered systems utilize strategies that are planned and carried out to offer proactive positive behavioral support to students. • Using an ESI is reactive – it is only used when a student is a harm to themselves or others.

Should ESI be part of student Behavior Plans? • ESI should not be a planned intervention for a specific student. • ESI is not an acceptable alternative to prevention • If you are planning for using an ESI, it means you can see the behavior coming. If you can see the behavior coming, every effort should be made for prevention.

Emergency Ask yourself: • Is the student an immediate danger to themselves? • Is the student an immediate danger to others? • Is the student is so violent that their actions may result in the destruction of property?

ESI Duration Emergency Safety Interventions should be discontinued as soon as the immediate danger has passed.

What are my responsibilities? • Participate in school training and implementation of prevention techniques and Virtuous Behavior Formation programs.

What are my responsibilities? When an ESI is used with a student: 1. Notify your principal immediately 2. Notify the parents within 48 hours

What are my responsibilities? Any time an ESI is used with a student it must be documented. Contact your principal for form #C133. This form includes the date and time of the intervention, the type of intervention used (seclusion or restraint), the length of intervention in minutes, and the names of the school personnel who participated in the intervention.

Concluding Thoughts • The use of Emergency Safety Interventions are extremely rare in our Catholic schools. • In the event and ESI is used, it must be reported and documented. • The focus should be on prevention strategies, such as Virtuous Behavior Formation, rather than reactive strategies, such as Emergency Safety Interventions.

Questions If you have any additional questions or concerns, please ask your principal or e-mail Karen Kroh at kkroh@archkckcs.org.

Emergency Safety Interventions “What Catholic School Teachers Need to Know”