Intervention and Referral Services

1. Intervention and Referral Services Linda Remolino, LPC, NCC Director of SchoolCounseling North Plainfield School District

2. Whatis I&RS? • Interdisciplinarycommittee of professional staff members. • This committeewascreated to provideteacherswithstrategies for helping « atrisk » students. • The areas of concernmayinclude: behavioral, medical or social issues. • I&RS regularly monitors the progress of students and recommends changes in strategies if necessary.

3. Does I&RS have anything to do with a 504? • Section 504 of the RehabilitationActprohibits discrimination againsthandicappedpersons by school districts receivingfederal assistance. Section 504 protects all handicappedstudentsdefined as thosehavingany mental or physicalimpairmentthatsubstantiallylimits one or more major life activities. The 504 legislationisfederal. • The I&RS team in eachschoolwilldetermine 504 eligibility as appropriate. • If a 504 Modification Plan isnecessary for the delivery of services, the I&RS team, acting as the 504 team, isresponsible for itsdevelopment and implementation.

4. How Are StudentsIdentified for I&RS? • Any staff membercanreferstudents to I&RS by using a referralform. You cangetthisformfrom the schoolcounselor. • Parents canrequestthattheirchildbereviewed by I&RS. Theycanmakethisrequest to the schoolcounselor or an administrator. • Self-referralformscanbecompleted by studentswhofeel the need for help.

5. WhatDoes I&RS Do For A Student ? • Once the studentisidentified, the I&RS team willreview the referral and contact otherappropriate people involvedwith the student. It maybedecided to meetwith the student as well. • The I&RS team willdevelopstrategies to help teachers to assistwiththisstudent. • The team willreview the studentsprogressregularly and change helpingstrategies as necessary. If afterseveralstrategies have been in place and the student’sacademic performance and/or behaviormerit a formalevaluation, the I&RS team mayrefer to the student to the Child Study Team.

6. I&RS Team Members • Building Administrator or designee • School Counselor/Social Worker • School Nurse • Child Study Team member or Special Education Teacher • Teachers from specialized areas: basic skills, reading, ELL

7. I&RS Best Practice Model • NJDOE best practices model is a 30-40 minute model following this format: • Review of collected information and summary: 3-4 minutes • Develop a measurable behavioral objective: 2-3 minutes • Brainstorm possible interventions: 6-8 minutes • Clarify and refine suggestions: 6-7 minutes • Select interventions: 6-8 minutes

8. Best practice model (con’t) • Develop the action plan: 7-10 minutes Also, the best practice model is for the case coordinator to meet with and interview the parent/guardian and the person requesting assistance, (usually the teacher), prior to the team meeting. While parents must be actively involved in the I&RS process, they do not need to be present at the action planning meeting.

9. Best Practice (con’t) The case coordinator’s job is to coordinate all relevant information prior to the meeting, and present the case to the team at the meeting.

10. In Conclusion • The function of the I&RS Team is to: • Identify learning, behavior and health difficulties of students • Collect thorough information on the identified learning, behavior and health difficulties • Develop and implement action plans which provide for appropriate interventions • Provide support, guidance and professional development to school staff who participate in the

11. Conclusion (con’t) • I&RS action plans • Coordinate services of community-based social and health provider agencies and other community resources for achieving desired outcomes • Maintain all records or requests for assistance, action plans and all related student information. • Review and assess effectiveness of each intervention including an annual review of progress