Minutes from May 12, 2016 SEPTA Meeting

Arlington Special Education PTA General Meeting

Job Readiness & Mental Health Services

Syphax Education Center at Sequoia Plaza, Rooms 101/103

2110 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22204

Date:  May 12, 2016

Time: 7-8:30 PM

Board Member Participants:

Katherine Harris – President

Carolyn Levy – VP—Membership

Caroline Butler – Treasurer

George Buzby – Assistant Treasurer

Karen Sosnoski – Secretary

Maria Votsch – VP—Communications

Nick Walkosak – Past President

7:05 Katherine Harris, President: Introduction

• Attended a Bill Signing Event on Thursday, May 12, at Wakefield High School.
• The Governor signed two bills that were authorized by the Virginia General Assembly this year: High School Redesign (SB 336/HB 895) and Adjunct CTE Teachers (SB 573/HB 279).
• Governor McAuliffe signed the recent state legislation that authorizes the Virginia High School Redesign.  This new legislation will provide a variety of rigorous pathways for students to earn their diplomas and bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce. The redesign will put more emphasis on preparing teens for the workforce and creating more opportunities for them to get college credit while in high school.
• The Governor also signed legislation that will make it easier for professionals working in CTE fields to earn temporary, adjunct teaching permits, giving students the opportunity to receive training from skilled professionals.
• SEPTA Board Positions for 2016-2017.
• We have an active recruiting committee led by Chris Waddell.
• Filled positions include the following:
• President: Caroline Levy
• VP Fundraising: Linda Campanelli
• VP Communications: Maria Votsch
• Treasurer: Joe Everly
• Secretary: Karen Sosnoski
• Past President: Katherine Harris

• Open positions for 2016-2017 include the following:
• President-Elect
• VP Membership
• VP Programming
• If you’re interested in volunteering for an open position, contact Chris Waddell.
• Important Dates:
• An Arlington Democratic caucus will be held on School Board candidates vying for 2 SB spots on Thursday, May 19 2016 (7-9PM) at Drew Model School and Saturday, May 21 2016 (11AM-7PM) at Washington-Lee High School
• Four candidates are Chaz Crimsom, Michael Shea, Tannia Talento and incumbent Nancy Van Doren.
• June 9th at SEPTA’s next and final meeting of the 2015-2016 school year, we’ll have SEPTA Leadership Elections and a 1-hour workshop for parents on Conscious Discipline, which gives parents tools to help their kids control their own behavior.

7:15 Caroline Butler: Budget Review:

• $3,200 budgeted for mini-grant program. Only $385 submitted. If no one else submits, funds are lost for this year.
• $1,000 for picnic (which we didn’t have in May) will stay in the bottom line.
• Unstuck and On Target will be held in Fall, not May.

7:20 Workforce Preparedness—Theresa Piccolo, ServiceSource’s Autism Service Program Coordinator and Emily Hoban, ServiceSource Employment Specialist discuss the Aspiring Skilled Determined (ASD) program, which assists individuals on the autism spectrum, ages 16 plus to get and maintain employment through one-on-one supports.

• Services Include: Assessments to explore career interests, strengths, abilities; Resume development, networking with employers and interview preparation for volunteer experiences, internships, and permanent employment Soft Skills Group to enhance social and communication skills for employment success.
• Eligibility: Live in Arlington; 16 or older; diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder; dedicated and motivated to exploring vocational interests;  seeking paid employment or volunteer experiences.
• Offer one-on-one support: Family Support Services builds partnerships with families, individuals, and staff. Prepares individuals and their families for life’s transitions by developing a plan that will support them through planned and unexpected life changes.
• ServiceSource is looking for referrals.
• Soft Skills Club (details):
• Come together as a group to discuss and learn the skills that will help you obtain employment and succeed in the work place. Must be 16 years or older and have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder to participate. Must reside in Arlington County.
• Mondays 4-5 PM 816 S Walter Reed Dr., Arlington, VA 22204 (Arlington Career Center, Room 225.
• Additional groups will be held on Saturday May 21st and June 25th at Arlington Central Library from 11 PM-12PM. Please contact: Theresa Piccolo (571) 337-9076  or theresa.piccolo@servicesource.org to RSVP. Service supported by funding from the Arlington Country Development Fund.
• Questions and Answers:
• Linda: what was your biggest challenge in building the soft skills class? Emily and Theresa: Figuring out what’s going to work for the group as a whole, with different people at different levels.
• Katherine: How does this mesh with PEP? Emily and Theresa: It’s completely separate, although they’ve been very gracious about letting us use the classroom for our soft skills group.
• Katherine: Is there anything we can be doing with our young kids before they get to you? Theresa: Yes, get them into volunteering, get used to expectations, taking directions, making connections. Also can help with resume. Connect with DARS, the department of aging and Rec. services. Linda: Also check with Therapeutic Rec. Emily: Let child do as much as they can for themselves, don’t do everything for them.
• Nick: Do you have a relationship with the school district? Yes—we connect with the guidance counselors.
• Katherine introduced Wendy Carria, APS Special Education Director and Angie Close, Supervisor APS Special Ed Programming.

7:30 Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services: Sharon Lawrence and Christian Haase of Arlington County’s Dept. of Health Services (DHS) lay out the mental health and behavioral health services Arlington County provides to children and youth.

• Children’s Behavioral Health includes outpatient treatment, substance abuse treatment, helping parents address behaviors in the home, assessments, psychiatric treatment, anger management groups, therapeutic recreational specialists, also responsible for strengthening families program. Therapist and clinician at Carlin Springs Elementary provides individual and family therapy.
• Do not provide meds only, but do connect family to a case manager. family.arlingtonva.us For children 0-17. 18 and above, adult services. Youth transition worker works closely with adult services.
• School cannot make the referral for the parent, although the school may call and provide information. Sometimes parents are in denial and it’s hard to explain the symptoms. But DHS does not give the schools information without a release form.

Process:

• Intake screener, will determine if services they provide are appropriate, she will help make referrals.
• The services they provide are not free. They take medical assistance, but they do not take private insurance.
• Ten days from your call, intake, ten days from intake see a clinician.

Process, DHS cont.:

• They do serve youth that have IEPs. Will connect you to DD or ID if your child needs additional services.
• Behavioral interventionist can help the parents make changes, not just the kids. They support the parents, work closely with the clinicians, trying to make sure the parents are involved in the process, valuing parental input.
• Often youth with physical disabilities are served through Children’s Hospital and GW Hospital.
• Serve conduct disorder, anxiety, mood disorder. They see a lot of anxiety and depression around testing and AP classes.
• Crisis Stabilization program has just received money to start a new team.

Christian Haase: Behavioral Health Wellness Specialist (Prevention)

• Focus on mental health promotion
• substance abuse prevention
• media campaigns
• Youth Mental Health First Aid—giving people skills to identify, support, find resources for mental health first aid.
• Assess for risk of suicide or harm.
• Listen non-judgmentally
• Give reassurance and information.
• Encourage appropriate professional help
• Encourage self-help
• Been able to train 293 people
• Theresa George also been doing the training with APS.
• There’s no cost to be trained.
• www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org
• From May 6th-12th, children’s mental health awareness week. Partnered with APS to do outreach, give out resources, swag etc.
• Their first visit was at HB Woodlawn, set up right in front of the cafeteria. It’s a sensitive topic. As soon as one kid came up, many kids came up.
• When they were at Wakefield where there was a suicide earlier, the students were so open, devoured their resources. Staff and administration did a good job making it possible for students to talk about it.
• Mission Possible, Monday May 16, 6:30-8 PM, signs of youth substance abuse, education and intervention. Kenmore Middle School Black Box.
• Questions and answers:
• Linda: How big groups? 30 people at a time. Greatest misconception about suicide? Talking about it will encourage somebody. Same with drugs. What is the rate of suicide in Arlington for 18 and under? Go to the Arlington Partnership for Children and Family, report card, large scale survey for teenagers.
• I’m With Dad Day, June 11th. Event promotes father involvement. Walter Reed Community Center, 12:30-3:30, Kick off Event. Cook Out, Obstacle Course, Photo Booth, Outdoor Games, and more. Surveys to help future groups.
• Questions and answers continued:
• Karen: use of social media to connect with kids? To receive suicide prevention service, person can text (don’t have to call) “CONNECT” to 85511
• Nick: Where’s the line between getting help for anxiety at school and getting referred to them. Wendy Carria: Counselors help with bad days, or with kids whose IEP demands it. They have to make a decision whether the child might benefit from help outside of school rather than being pulled out or maybe they need long term care over the summer. Normal vs Abnormal Development can be a fine line: What’s the impact their struggles are having on their grades, their home life, etc.—just have to monitor the level of impact. DHS puts a flyer in the backpack in September. They’re looking for other avenues, so people know they exist. A lot of the calls they get are from parents.  Wendy—it’s not easy in the early years to tell between developments/special ed needs and mental health needs.

8:25 Concluding Comments:

Caroline Levy—VP of Membership this year, President next, has a nice binder for anyone who wants to be VP of Membership next year. Katherine Harris, current President, also is passing on great materials!