Creative Outreach for Youth At Risk

July 2012

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

• 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.

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

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)

Circle of Courage Philosophy

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

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 go in– 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

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

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

• 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…..

• 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•

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.

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!

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

Referral Stats from 2011-2012

• 52 students referred and arrived• Non compliance – 5• Non compliance and attendance – 7• Attendance - 40

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

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)

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.

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.