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AACPS Blueprint Work by Pillar
Community Schools
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In order to help eliminate the opportunity gap, AACPS’ Community School Strategy leverages more resources to ensure all students are successful in our 23 Community Schools. Blueprint grant funds allow each school to hire a full-time program manager, a full-time nurse, and to provide additional wraparound services for students and their families. Please visit our AACPS Community Schools website to learn more.
In the 2022-2023 school year, the Blueprint Community School grant funds will provide:
- A preventive dental screening program for all Grade 3 students in Community Schools
- Pilot expanded health services at 2 Community Schools
- Eight full-time social workers
- Two additional school counselors
- Four full-time school psychologists
- Restorative Practices Training for 40 staff members
- Adult education classes for families through a partnership with Anne Arundel Community College
- Extended day opportunities for students to participate in clubs and academic enrichment
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
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In order to address the Social and Emotional Learning needs of our students, including a focus on trauma, AACPS provides extensive behavioral health services to students. Under the leadership of our Student Services Division, our social workers, counselors, psychologists, pupil personnel workers, and restorative practices coaches provide direct services to students and connect students and families with outside agencies who are most equipped to meet the unique needs of students and their families. Please visit the AACPS Blueprint Reports website to read AACPS’ Behavioral Health Plan. There is additional information in our Report on how AACPS used ESSER funding for behavioral health needs,
Examples of how AACPS supports the mental health needs of students and families include:
- Thirty Student Services staff members have become certified as Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructors. These trainings are being offered to AACPS staff.
- Fifteen Student Services staff have been trained as instructors for ACE Interface Trauma Training through the Family Tree. These trainings are being offered to AACPS staff.
- Offering Social-Emotional Learning training for adults for AACPS through Second Step.
- Providing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and Restorative Practices professional development/training to many AACPS schools.
- Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers are receiving SEFEL (Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning) training to support them in creating positive classroom environments for their students.
- Pre-K through 8th grade students engage in weekly social-emotional learning through Second Step. High school students engage in weekly community wellness lessons.
- Middle and high school students viewed a documentary series on mental health topics during advisory, including Angst, Upstanders, and Like. The documentaries were accompanied by lesson activities and there was a community screening of the documentary series in the evening.
- The Student Alliance for Flourishing Club, which focuses on mental and physical well-being, is being offered at five high schools and three middle schools.
- Playworks is working with five elementary schools to support structured recess through play and social-emotional learning.
- Attendance Works is working with the Meade, Annapolis, North County, and Glen Burnie cluster of schools to support student engagement and reduce chronic absenteeism.
- The STAR (Screening Teens Access to Recovery) program is available to middle and high school students struggling with substance use. Students can get a confidential screening in the nurse’s office and be referred to services.
- The Substance Use Prevention and Intervention Team is available to middle and high school students struggling with substance use. With parent consent, students can receive therapy from an addictions/mental health counselor in the school building.
- The AACPS Expanded School-Based Mental Health program offers mental health support for insured and uninsured students and families in school buildings.
- AACPS is using a systemwide behavioral threat assessment system through Navigate 360 to support schools in assessing and addressing any threats of harm to others that may occur with students.
- AACPS has a partnership with Thrive Behavioral Health called the Expanded Childhood Behavior Intervention in which a behavioral health clinician and a behavioral assistant work as a team to support students who are struggling with classroom behavior. The team also supports the teacher and family in supporting the student’s success.
- AACPS supports elementary schools with additional adult classroom support and calming resources to support students who are engaging in challenging behaviors and need additional support.