SIMCOE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD - SCDSB - … Us/Multi Year Plan Documents/Mental... · financial resources to sustain re- ... Two of pilot project. Establish team support

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2012 – 2016

SIMCOE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS MULTI-YEAR PLAN

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Overview In June 2011, the Ontario Government released Open Minds Healthy Minds – Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health Strategy (10 year Strategy) The provincial strategy includes a focus on children and youth in the first three years. Specifically, the Ministries of Education (EDU), Children and Youth Services (MCYS), Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) and Training, Colleges and Universities (TCU) are working together to find ways to:

Provide fast access to high quality care;

Identify and intervene in children and youth mental health issues early; and,

Close critical service gaps for vulnerable children and youth and those in remote communities A range of intra and inter-ministerial initiatives were phased in over a three year period beginning in the fall of 2011 to support youth mental health. The EDU has commissioned Mental Health ASSIST, a mental health strategy implementation team to support boards in their development and implementation of mental health strategies. It is also amending the educational curriculum to include mental health promotion and the reduction to stigma, and has funded Mental Health Leaders in boards to facilitate strategy development and implementation. The SCDSB is committed to both the achievement and well-being of its students. Accordingly, the Mental Health and Addictions strategy was launched during the 2011-2012 school year. In 2012-2013 the Board hired a Mental Health Leader to coordinate further development of the strategy and to implement key priorities, which has expanded to include active participation of schools throughout the board.

2013-2014 Action Items

Creating the organizational conditions that will support and sustain the focus on mental health and well-being within the Board was emphasized in the 2013-2014 school year. Of significant note, the Mental Health Multi-Disciplinary Team structure was established, bringing multiple school mental health service providers under one umbrella with the goal of providing coordinated and professional mental health services to students through standardized practices, role clarity, methods of evaluation and opportunities for collaborative professional development.

The assessment of capacity was expanded to incorporate feedback from teaching and non-teaching staff, which allowed for the identification of areas of strength and need regarding mental health awareness and literacy as they relate to providing support and services to students. The data gathered from these groups has informed key priorities regarding increased awareness and literacy amongst staff, as well as providing programs and services to address student needs related to the universal promotion of positive mental health and targeted interventions directed at students who are already struggling with mental health concerns.

In the spring of 2014, all administrators and some school staff members attended a half-day training regarding “Leading Mentally Healthy Schools” in preparation for the development of school mental health teams and plans. Subsequently, twenty-two Mental Health Pilot Schools were selected to develop Mental Health Teams and Plans for their schools. By 2017, it is anticipated that all schools within the board will have adopted a Mental Health Team and Plan. This tiered approach allows for more intensive, ongoing support to ensure that a systematic integration of organizational conditions is implemented and sustained over time.

The 2013-2014 initiatives combined with the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Mental Health and Addictions Plans represent a Multi-Year planning approach. It is fully aligned with: the Simcoe Path, and Open Minds Healthy Minds and is firmly embedded in the Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Well-Being – specifically as an equity priority within our Community, Culture and Caring Goal as well as supporting and being supported by Learning and Teaching and Program and Pathways goals and priorities.

The 2014-2015 Mental Health and Addictions Plan draws upon the EDU objectives affirmed by Mental Health ASSIST and includes: 1. Organizational Conditions 2. Capacity Building

3. Implementation of Evidence-based Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Programming



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Organizational Conditions

2014-2015 Action Items Resources Professional Learning/Activities

Monitoring Responsibility Evaluation/Outcomes

Establish and use standard processes for implementation of mental health services and initiatives within the board.

Optimize services available by avoiding duplication, addressing gaps and providing more expedited access to the right mental health services for students

Commitment from Admin Council, Trustees for financial resources to sustain re-alignment, training and programing

Re-alignment of mental health services within the board, including policy development, role definition and service coordination both internally and with external mental health partners.

Mental Health Leader

Steering Committee

Meeting minutes


Manager of Social Work

Superintendent responsible for Mental Health

Superintendents of Education

Admin Council

Student Services staff will have the foundational knowledge and training/coaching on the approach to be able to share knowledge in a consistent way.

Referral pathways and other procedures will be easily understood by staff, students and parents who are accessing the programs.

Improved transitions for students

Pilot the creation of School Mental Health Teams

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools



School Administration, staff, students, parents

Social Workers Central and Area

Consultants

Two schools from each area to be selected to pilot comprehensive School Mental Health Plans

Support to be provided by Social Workers, Consultants and the Mental Health Leader


Progress meetings with Pilot schools, both individually and by area

Progress reports with Social Workers


School Administration

Social Workers Central and Area

Consultants

Literacy and capacity is increased with staff who are better able to identify students struggling with mental health needs and connect them with appropriate supportive services to meet their needs.

Increased level of awareness of positive mental health strategies within the schools.

Increased community collaboration in offering services to schools.



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Collaborative relationships with community partners to optimize service delivery: address duplication, gaps, shared training opportunities and community development

Mental Health & Addictions Steering Committee

Community Partners Working Group

COMPASS North Simcoe

Muskoka Local Health Integration Network

Meetings that focus on defining internal and external supports as menu of universal and targeted services

Strengthen relationships with community to enhance board capacity to address student needs; maintain representation on community planning tables

Attendance at meetings

Postings on Sharepoint

Meeting minutes from COMPASS Co-management

Alignment with LHIN, Coalition strategic planning and implementation

Chair of the Community Partners Working Group





Improved pathways to services in the community

Improved collaboration between the board and the community

Establish and execute a Communication Plan, using shared language and seeking system-wide commitment

Time on meeting agendas; scheduled training sessions, web-site development, written materials

Funds for graphic design and printing costs

Support from communications and IT department

Consistently communicate key mental health terms and messages to promote a shared language and foundational knowledge about mental health within the board and the community

Communicate the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy and specific actions in support of school mental health; seek joint ownership

Launch and maintain a Mental Health section on the board website to provide information, including links to recommended mental health resources

Select and/or develop print and web awareness-level resources (e.g. fact


Communications department

Progress meetings with Special Education Management Team

Evaluations and Feedback


Communications Officer


IT department staff

A multi-media communication plan that targets students, families and staff alike will be implemented, including web-site development, written materials that showcase mental health supports and services within the board, blogs and newsletters that highlight key elements of the Mental Health Plan or initiatives taking place.

All stakeholders will speak a common language when communicating about school mental health.

All stakeholders will be aware of the board’s goals and priorities, and understand their own role in the promotion of positive mental health and the prevention of mental health problems.



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sheets, newsletters) to increase communication and promote shared language

All stakeholders will have access to the public and /or staff section of the website to obtain current information related to mental health resources, procedures and /or initiatives. Awareness-level print and web resources will be widely available for staff, families and community.

2015 - 2016 Action Items

Resources Professional Learning/Activities


Ongoing standardization of mental health processes, organizational structure and provision of services.

Commitment from Admin Council and Trustees for financial resources to sustain re-alignment, training and programing

Develop a plan to include Child & Youth Workers under the Multi-Disciplinary Team as itinerant workers, which includes role definition, professional development and policy implementation

Policy development related to Mental Health professionals and services within the board

Progress reports in Special Education Management Meetings

Mental Health Steering Committee


Manager of Social Work Services

Principal of Special Education


Privacy officer Admin Council

Student Services staff will have the foundational knowledge and training/coaching on the approach to be able to share knowledge in a consistent way.

Referral pathways and other procedures will be easily understood by staff, students and parents who are accessing the programs.

Improved transitions for students



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Ongoing implementation of the Mental Health Pilot School project.


Social Workers Area and Central

Consultants Superintendents of

Education School

Administration and Staff

Students, Families

Identify interested schools and designate 50% of schools within each area that will participate in Phase Two of pilot project.

Establish team support by area as provided through mentorship schools, Social Workers, Consultants and Mental Health Leader

Continue to support Phase One schools in further developing their plans.


Progress meetings with individual schools and area teams

Progress meetings with Social Workers and Area/Central Consultants

School Administration and staff




Consultants

Literacy and capacity is increased with staff who are better able to identify students struggling with mental health needs and connect them with appropriate supportive services to meet their needs.

Increased level of awareness of positive mental health strategies within the schools.

Increased community collaboration in offering services to schools.

Enhanced implementation of the communication plan.

Participation from various mental health professionals within the board and from external community mental health partners, such as: social workers, child & youth workers, psychologists, mental health & addictions nurses, school-based mental health workers, public health nurses

Ongoing support from IT and communications

Maintain mental health section on the board web-site

Initiate blogs, newsletters, etc.

Distribution of printed materials to reinforce positive mental health messages

Disseminate board mental health strategy and key priorities in meaningful ways

Participation in community mental health events



Special Education Management Team




Awareness and Literacy Working Group


Parent Involvement Committee

A multi-media communication plan will be further implemented, including improved with increased focus on student and family access to information that highlight key elements of the Mental Health Plan or initiatives taking place.

All stakeholders will speak a common language when communicating about school mental health.

All stakeholders will be aware of the board’s goals and priorities, and understand their own role in the promotion of positive mental health and the prevention of mental health problems.



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Capacity Building




Develop clear protocols for professional development, using a systematic cascade approach that will increase mental health awareness for all staff and students; increase literacy for administrators and educators; increase expertise for those delivering specialized assessments and intervention services.

Materials provided by SMH ASSIST; printing costs; time on meeting agendas

Leading Mentally Healthy Schools

Supporting Minds

Establish a cascading and systemic approach to increase capacity throughout the board.

Establish sustainable approach to PD which supports new and existing staff and enables integration of mental health into new and ongoing professional development opportunities across the board

In-service all School Administrators on Mental Health resource guide

Encourage and provide opportunities for staff and students to develop the knowledge required to develop and maintain positive mental health, as well as the knowledge to identify and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health distress


Mental Health Steering Committee meeting minutes



Chair – MH Awareness and Literacy Working Group




Senior Psychologist

A plan for ongoing training, including new staff, will ensure that all staff have the information they need to be aligned with current capacity and to realize the board’s vision

Scaffolding capacity in the system will ensure that new learners have more knowledgeable staff to assist/support them.



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Embed an infrastructure, protocols and roles that will sustain: educator capacity to support students with mental health needs, the best collection of evidence based mental health promotion and prevention programming, as well as leveraging of community partnerships.

Resources from SMH ASSIST: Leading Mentally Healthy Schools, Supporting Minds

Safe Talk delivery

Pilot schools to embark on the process of creating Mental Health teams and plans within their schools, and over three years this will be expanded to include all schools within the board, such that every school is focused on meeting the mental health needs of students in Tier 1, 2 and 3 in an effective and coordinated manner.


Mental Health Steering Committee meeting minutes

Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Evidence-Based Working Group

Pilot school area meetings and individual school meetings with Mental Health Team




Consultants School Teams Area

Superintendents

Initiation of a Mental Health Plan that incorporates key priorities that are unique to their school’s mental health needs and that aligns with the provincial and board strategies.

In subsequent years, an increasing number of schools will adopt a Mental Health Plan, with all schools being included by 2016/17. This tiered approach allows for more intensive, ongoing support to ensure that a systematic integration of organizational conditions is implemented and sustained over time.

As more schools develop Mental Health Plans, the number of staff with enhanced literacy and capacity grows and encourages formal and informal sharing of knowledge, language and understanding of mental health and well-being.



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Protocols are established that allow for the ongoing assessment of capacity within the board and inform the future priorities and direction of mental health.

Research department

Resource mapping tool

Board scan Parent survey Student climate

survey Mental Health

Steering Committee

Creation of a parent survey

Revision of student climate survey to reflect questions regarding mental health

Establish protocol and method for regular assessment and review

Mental Health Steering Committee to review and create priorities




Research Mental Health

Steering Committee Working Groups

Data from key stakeholders informs the direction and priorities of mental health within the board.




Develop clear protocols for professional development to increase mental health awareness, literacy and expertise

Materials provided by SMH Assist

Materials selected by Mental Health Evidence-Based Promotion and Prevention Working Group

Board mental health professionals such as Psychology, Social Work, Nurses, Child & Youth Workers

Community partners

Establish a team of mental health educators that can provide training and expertise for various staff within the board

Embed mental health & wellness as a priority for professional development days within the board

Develop varied methods of mental health professional development, such as webinars, PLC’s and collaborative inquiries

Mental health as a standing topic within NTIP

Tracking of PD offered by the board

Tracking of PD delivered in schools


Admin Council Trustees Mental Health

Leader Special Education

Management Team Admin Council

A plan for ongoing training, including new staff, will ensure that all staff have the information they need to be aligned with current capacity and to realize the board’s vision

Scaffolding capacity in the system will ensure that new learners have more knowledgeable staff to assist/support them.



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Expand ongoing assessment of capacity to include wider array of stakeholders

Research Families Community

partners

Annual implementation of mental health tools that assess capacity for students, staff and families

Develop an assessment tool regarding collaboration with community partners

Utilize data to inform key priorities


Data from surveys


Mental Health Steering Committee and Working Groups



Data from key stakeholders informs the direction and priorities of mental health within the board.

Collaboration with community services is strengthened to delivery improved and coordinated mental health services

Implementation of Evidence-based Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Programming




Establish a menu of evidence-based practices, resources and interventions available for a variety of areas related to mental health and well-being

Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Working Group

Mental Health Assist

Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning

Review data from Resource Mapping Tool, Board Scan, Student Climate Survey and Staff survey completed and initiate analysis of remaining stakeholders to assess areas of need

Select and implement programs and resources that correspond to gaps in resource mapping and align with Mental Health Strategy

Establish methods to embed mental health promotion in curriculum.


Mental Health Evidence-Based Promotion and Prevention Working Group


Chair of Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Working Group



The services being provided to students are easily accessible and of high quality such that students are receiving support that matches their need in a timely fashion.

Board staff have a variety of high quality programs and services to offer students that are both promotional and preventative in nature.



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Develop roll-out plan for Safe-Talk and Assist Programs



Social Workers

Identify key participants for training

Implement PD strategy


Evaluations



School Principals

Increased capacity to recognize and respond to students at risk for suicide

Programs and services are meeting goals and anticipated outcomes.

Mental Health promotion and prevention working group

Research data

Creation of evaluation methods for programs and services

Rainbows and Zones of Regulation to be evaluated

Analysis of data to inform targeted outcomes




Principals of Special Education

Mental Health & Addictions Steering Committee



Mental Health Promotion & Prevention Working Group

Community Stakeholders

Staff are equipped with the knowledge to identify students who are struggling with mental health concerns.

Students have access to high quality supports and services that meet their changing needs in a timely fashion.




Enhance menu of evidence-based practices, resources and interventions available for a variety of areas related to mental health and well-being.

Funding to offer training in evidence-based programs

Social Workers Child & Youth

Workers

Ongoing identification of mental health needs and gaps in services

Ongoing identification of high quality programs and services that match the identified need

Provision of professional development & training to delivery necessary services

Meeting minutes from Mental Health Evidence-Based Working Group and Mental Health Steering Committee






Student services are easily accessible and of high quality such that students are receiving timely support that matches their need.

Board staff have a variety of high quality programs and services to offer students that are both promotional and preventative in nature.



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Programs and services are meeting goals and anticipated outcomes.

Research Mental Health

Leader Social Workers Child & Youth

Workers Stakeholders

Develop implementation plan that addresses training, standardized delivery and evaluation for Rainbows and Zones of Regulation based on data gathered through evaluation.

Implement evaluation methods for social work and child & youth workers.





Special Education: Principals and Consultants

Social Workers Child & Youth

Workers

Staff are equipped with the knowledge to identify students who are struggling with mental health concerns.

Students have access to high quality supports and services that meet their needs in a timely fashion.

Revised February 2015