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Child Search. L ouisiana Office of Youth Development Simon G. Gonsoulin Acting Assistant Secretary. EDUCATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. Agreement Signed November, 1999 Implementation Plan Completed April, 2000 Quality Assurance Started September, 2000
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Child Search Louisiana Office of Youth Development Simon G. Gonsoulin Acting Assistant Secretary
EDUCATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT • AgreementSigned November, 1999 • Implementation PlanCompleted April, 2000 • Quality AssuranceStarted September, 2000 • All Staffing RequirementsMet Summer, 2001 • Completion of All ConstructionApril, 2002 • Final DOJ/Plaintiff VisitSummer and Fall, 2002 • State Petitioned for DismissalDecember, 2002 • Dismissal from Education Settlement January, 2003
Educational Profile of Students Entering Louisiana’s Juvenile Justice Secure Care Facilities • 44%of our students are 17 years of age or older • 28%of our students enter reading below a third grade level • 39%of our students enter below a basic literacy level • 68%of our students enter reading and calculating math at or below the secondary grade level • 87%of our students enter our schools having been suspended or expelled during their last year in public school
Child Search • Child Search is a process of identifying and tracking students that have “fallen through thecracks” of the educational, medical, and/or mental health systems prior to placement in secure care and during the youth’s confinement to OYD.
Child Search • The goal of Child Search is to achieve a seamless delivery model across all departments that ensures that each student’s unique and special needs are fully met in a timely manner.
How did Child Search develop? • Child Search resulted from the monitoring process included in the Quality Assurance Program. • The monitoring process revealed several students with “special needs” that were not being fully addressed by the different disciplines that offer services to Louisiana’s secure care population. • These needs were either educational, behavioral, and/or medical/mental health related.
Why did Child Search develop? Early identification We needed to develop a better method of Referral problem solving for youth
Child Search Procedure • The Child Search coordinators attend weekly intake staff meetings which include representatives from regular education, special education, social services, medical, mental health, security, and religious services. • The representative from each department reports the information available for each student.
Child Search Procedure • The Child Search coordinator reviews the transfer data that are pertinent to education on every student as they enter the facility. This may include: Achievement test scores, previous grade placement, age, level of cognitive functioning, medical or mental health histories, educational placement and history.
Child Search Procedure • The intake meetinghas proven to be the most critical component of the Child Search process because a wealth of information is obtained on every student. Many referrals are made at this point of entry.
Student Tracking • Information obtained from the intake meeting is entered into a database which tracks every student that has a history or current diagnosis of ADHD or depression, students currently taking medication for either of these disorders, and the special education disability (if any) for these students.
Student Tracking • Students that are given intellectual screening tests at the diagnostic unit and score in the mildly impaired range are tracked using a separate list. • If these students are not already identified as special education students, they will be immediately referred to the SBLC to rule out cognitive concerns.
Medication List Review • The Child Search coordinators regularly review the list of students that are prescribed psychotropic medications and those that are identified as Seriously Mentally ILL (SMI). The database is updated accordingly.
Disciplinary Ticket Review • Copies of disciplinary tickets for every student are provided to the Child Search coordinators to review. A determination is made of the number of tickets issued in the school setting. • If a particular student receives numerous tickets for two or more months, and that student is not receiving counseling services from special education or mental health services, then that student will be referred.
Child Search • The Child Search process has undergone several modifications and adaptations since its original conception to accommodate the significant growth and change that has occurred within our system.
Summary • Review intake data on every student • Attend weekly intake staff meeting • Make any referrals resulting from intake • Update tracking lists • Review on an ongoing basis: medication and SMI lists, special education roster, students with cognitive concerns, disciplinary tickets, more restrictive housing and grades. • Make referrals as needed