Student Advocacy

1. StudentAdvocacy

2. Child Advocacy Definition To promote the optimal development of children.

3. Child Advocacy Definition To protect children’s rights which may be abridged or abused in a number of areas.

4. Safe Harbor Students want an adult ally and a safe harbor

5. Student Advocacy Topics • All Students • School Climate • Academic Rigor • Career Plan • Individuals • Abused • Behavior Problems • Close the Achievement Gap

6. All Students Advocacy • Junior High – 1,000 behavior referrals • Teachers – “Those Darn Kids” • Students – “Washington is Wacked” • Staff – Overwhelmed • What would you do to advocate for student to have a positive learning environment?

7. Chinese Proverb One bamboo doesn’t make a raft.

8. All Students Advocacy • Principal’s Agreement • Staff Leadership Team • Presented Data at Staff Meeting • Staff Discussion

9. All Students Advocacy • Cathartic • Set Goals • 25% fewer behavior referrals • 30% increase in PLE survey • School Mission Statement

10. Washington Mission Statement Students and staff will work together to make Washington a positive place to learn and teach.

11. All Students Advocacy • Outside Speaker • Follow-up • Washington Way • Monthly Themes

12. All Students Advocacy • Student Leadership Team • Friday DVD • Posters • Announcements • Prizes • Hallway Plan • Individual Interventions

13. 1 out of 4 girls are sexually abused 800 students - 100 sexually abused girls

14. Advocating for Abused Students • Classroom Presentation • DVD • Prevalence of Abuse • Not Your Fault • Repeat Perpetrators • Can Feel Better

15. ASCA Ethical Standards A1A - Has a primary obligation to the student, who is to be treated with respect as a unique individual.

16. Scenario • Jan, a 10th grader, reports Abby is being sexually abused by her mom’s boyfriend • What should you do next as a student advocate?

17. Student Advocacy • Reassure Jan • Meet with Jan a few more times • Call Abby to office • Let her know reason for meeting • Confidentiality • Reiterate lesson points • Abby denied the abuse

18. Sexual Abuse Fact Approximately 97% of youth who report sexual abuse are telling the truth.

19. Student Advocacy • Told Abby this fact • Known situations when it wasn’t true • Mandatory Reporter • Would not report that she disclosed • Abby reported abuse • What would you do differently? • What would you do next?

20. Student Advocacy • Told Abby that I must report • Called Child Protection • Let Abby know what happens next • Safe • Realistic hope • CP worker arrives at school • Get Abby from class

21. Student Advocacy • Abby met with CP worker • Met with Abby after CP worker left • Report was unfounded • What would you do next?

22. ASCA Ethical Standards A6 - Make referrals when necessary to outside resources E1 - Function within the boundaries of individual professional competence and accept responsibility for the consequences of his/her actions

23. Student Advocacy • Met with Abby • Called mom to make referral • Did not follow through with referral • Met with Abby weekly • Humanistic/Solution-Focused • Meetings - bi-weekly to monthly • Academic Improvement Group

24. Sexual Abuse Facts • 1 out of 5 have been solicited on internet • 1 out of 6 boys are abused • 35% abused by family member • 40% by older children they know • Average age is 9 years old • Most children don’t report abuse • 80% initially deny it • 81% - doing better after counseling

25. Personal/Social Issues Helping students who most need us 18% Depressed, 31% Anger Problems 30% More Cutting, 24% Presc. Drugs 16%-75% follow through with referrals Not therapists Trained professionals Better prepared to help

26. Mother Teresa If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

27. All Students Advocacy • High School– fewest advanced classes • Test scores about district average • Third lowest rate of post-secondary • Second highest dropout rate • Lowest GPA in district • What would you do to advocate for your students?

28. ASCA Ethical Standards A1B - Is concerned with the educational, academic, career, personal and social needs and encourages the maximum development of every student.

29. Stress Stress is when you wake up screaming and realize you haven’t fallen asleep yet.

30. All Students Advocacy • Management Agreement • Staff Leadership Team • Present Data at Staff Meeting • Set Goals • 10% increase in advance classes • Raise GPA by .3 • 5% increase in post-secondary

31. Rigor Advocacy • Counselors reviewed students with advanced teachers • Standardized test scores • Teacher recommendations • Students of color • Contacted parents

32. Rigor Advocacy • Groups – Connect and Check • Ethnic Identity Development • Grading Period – Review grades • Use data to identify new students • What would you add, change, or delete?

33. Academic Advocacy • September Theme – Organization • Planner • Binder • Check Grades • Parent Night • Homeroom Challenges • Close the Achievement Gap

34. Academic Advocacy • Small Groups – Study Hall • Ethnic Identity Development • Grading Period – Check grades • Identify new students

35. Academic Advocacy • Identify staff • Individuals – Check and Connect • Positive Phone Calls • What would you add, change, or delete?

36. Post-Secondary Advocacy • Students of Color • Naviance in Classroom • 4 Areas • Match with • Career Plan • High School Plan • Post-Secondary Plan

37. Post-Secondary Advocacy • 11th and 12th Grade – Individual Student Planning • Parent Nights – 3 annual • Reports • Follow-up • What would you add, change or delete?

38. Maya Angelou People may forget what you said and did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.