Creative Outreach for Youth At Risk

1. Creative Outreach for Youth At Risk July 2012

3. John Chisholm Alternate School -history and background • In operation for many years and has had many transformations • Originally a school for students with intensive needs • Morphed into a high school for those who struggled in regular setting or were unwelcome in regular setting • Students used to be able to graduate from JC

4. Spring of 2008 a review of the needs of the program was conducted including all stakeholders • Staff at JC, staff at high schools and elementary schools, students, parents, city police, mental health, public health, justice/corrections and public safety, social services.

5. Results? • Program goals: • 1. to provide a range of options (layers of supports) that provide students with what they need to be successful • 2. provide high quality learning opportunities for development of the whole person • 3. provide opportunities for positive relationships with adults and peers

6. Structural Changes Occurred • JC became a school under the umbrella of RVCI • Principal at Riverview Collegiate Institute (RVCI) • Vice Principal at JC • Total FTE at JC is 6.0 • This allowed for sharing of more resources – staffing, shops, materials, programming (students could take regular high school classes at RVCI while receiving the needed supports from JC)

7. Circle of Courage Philosophy

9. Development of Outreach • Outreach consultant hired – Full time, teacher, with masters in related field (psychology) • Purpose was to try to push the kids back into their regular school • Find them earlier – middle years or sooner • Put supports and interventions in place at home school

10. Outreach Staff – 2.0 FTE • JC teachers began to work in regular classrooms • Referral was made to JC from an elementary school • Rather than pull the student out, the JC Outreach teachers goin • Teach the class so that the teacher can build a relationship with student • Spend 1-1 time with student at the school – direct and indirect support • Involve the student in some of the Outreach Activities organized by JC

12. Creative Outreach Activities • Meant to build on interests and skills that youth have • Not a punishment/reward system • Constant coaching taking place during outreach • Mastery, independence, belonging and generosity are all filled through Outreach

17. Other Activities • Canoe building • Archery • Art • Bike reconstruction • Various shop activities –small motors, woodworking, model building • Paddle making • Shovelling walks • Fitness activities – hiking, canoeing, walking

18. AND THANKS Don for arranging and allowing this to occur—canoeing this spring, transition to HS and Worms taking John to AEP every day 5 PM for shop, etc, etc, etc. I may not say it enough to folks in yours, Worms, and Krista’s positions with JC/Outreach, BUT I sure appreciate it as an elementary-in-school-admin…..

19. Hello Mike, • We spoke very briefly on the phone the other day, thanks for straightening everything out where BOB needed to be! • We’ve never had the opportunity to meet, but I just wanted to give out a big thank you for working with BOB this past year, as well as the great report that you sent in. • It was probably the highlight of the year (and previous years) as far as giving him praise & highlighting his strong areas, this is not the norm with most other report cards, so it felt really great (and for BOB too)J BOB is definitely a unique intelligent individual, I can’t tell you how glad I am that he got to spend some “school time” doing work that he loves, in a positive stress fee environment, it really seemed to bring out the best in him. • Keep up the good work! BOB seemed to relate to you very well & had great things to say, his time there seems to have truly made a difference. • Have a great summer • Sherri – BOB’s Mom

22. Home School Responsibilities • To understand and support the need for the outreach programming • To realize its not a reward or punishment system • To continue to accept and love all of the children in their schools! • To continue to try to build the capacity within their own schools to fill the Circle.

23. Students Who `Stay` • Each year there are about 10 students whose home is JC • Many become the extension of the VPs arm • Significant behaviors that are too risky to have in regular building • Extensive team involvement – Justice, Police, Mental Health, Social Services, Addictions, John Howard etc. • Always with the goal of re-integration!

24. Students Who ‘Visit’ • Usually established as a 6 week plan • The sending/home school remains responsible for sending work, marking, reporting etc • Sending school remains responsible for PPP • Student and team establish a goal for attendance, behavior, health, safety to be accomplished in the 6 weeks. • Regular reviews that are lead by the home school team

25. Referral Stats from 2011-2012 • 52 students referred and arrived • Non compliance – 5 • Non compliance and attendance – 7 • Attendance - 40

26. Where are they now? • Not attending anywhere – 17 (hanging around but not enough to be considered attending) • At JC as of June 28 – 16 (many will transition back in September to home school • Back at home school – 6 (transitioned back during the year) • In custody – 4 • Working – 2 • Other divisions – 7

27. JC is still a ‘school’ • Students can still achieve credit for their courses. • Course recovery often takes place at JC. • Responsible for creating a Learning Improvement Plan (LIP) as a ministry requirement. • Responsible for having a School Community Council (SCC) as a ministry requirement. • Has a decentralized budget for supplies, materials, PD etc. (supplemented by their very generous superintendent)

28. General Results from the Shift to Push In vs Pull Out Model • Average age of JC student has decreased – far more middle years students now. • Schools are beginning to realize their responsibility for ALL students. • Administrators are beginning to find their own creative outreach opportunities.

29. What Next? • Each year the focus has shifted in an attempt to respond to the needs of students and schools – attendance issue has to be tackled! • Continue to help teachers and admin understand the value of keeping challenging students in their building – long term goal of filling the circle and the payoff to society • Continue to find unique ways to meet the needs of our most vulnerable students.