Catholic Charities’ School Services Collaboration
Sharing the mission to increase student success; Valuing the strength & synergy of “team”
November 3, 2015
Attended: Rose Caldwell, Laura Greene, Meichle Latham, Lauren Maguire,
Lori Ricupito, Susan Seawood, Jim Szwejbka
Excused: Daytuan Antonetti, Heidi Billittier, Dan Cross-Viola, MaryAnn Deibel-Braun,
Marissa Desiderio, Kathleen Hall, Sylvia Lloyd, Michael Lynch, Tanice Pendergrass
I. Agency Updates- Meichle
v Department-wide school-based programs have been sustained and continue to expand
II. Funding/Partnership opportunities- opportunities for program development, retention and expansion
v CCSC- Exploring possibility of AmeriCorps funding
v TSFP-CTG: Full Service Community Schools 5 yr. grant (UWBEC-DOE)
for services at BPS #93 & BPS #206 10.1.15-9.30.20
v SBPS: ECDSS- pending word on proposed increase for program expansion
III. Program evaluation- how measuring effectiveness of program?
v Not discussed today
IV. Community Resource exchange/sharing
v November 9th - Who is after your children? Big Tobacco, Alcohol Companies, Marijuana supporters are marketing to children. Facilitated by Sally Yageric from ECCPASA, kids program for Grades K-5 facilitated by Kathy Mobarak-Miller and the Amherst Youth Consortium.
v Friday, November 13 - WNY Special Education Task Force “Managing Anxiety and School Avoidance”: 9am-12pm @ Erie 1 BOCES.
v December 4- Working with LGBT youth: for clinicians & school personnel:
9-4pm @ Horizon Health Services , Niagara Falls Blvd. Register @ 833-3708
v School-Based Preventive Services in WNY school districts
o Almost all 28 have negotiated the partnership
o The intention is to identify & work with families who may be “at risk” of a CPS report. Preventing CPS reports is the intention.
v Child & Family Support Program of the Mental Health Association- various programs for parents and kids they offer: hospital advocates, respite, support groups (teen, young adult & parent) and phone support for parents.
v Mid-Erie Counseling & Treatment Services- Partnering with schools to offer school-based services (Buffalo, Cheektowaga and Bowmansville), family therapy, adult mental health services and drug & alcohol treatment.
v Operation Com: children of the Military: 2nd and 4th Fridays from
5:30-7:30pm @ 1280 Main St. 2nd floor. Call 548-6606 to register.
V. Projects (individual program/CCSSCT)- current and envisioned
v CCSSCT- Google Form to create school services directory for the intranet for employee access- contact information; guide for program decisions- in process
v ISSWP- creating a program brochure
v CCSSCT- uniform & consistent Policy & Procedure for treatment of children (including ages)- proposed
VI. Program updates, Achievements & Celebrations (please submit ahead of time if unable to attend/send alternative representative)
v A Gathering Place- Heidi- N/A; Excused
v Catholic Charities’ Service Corps (CCSC)- Lauren
v 2 Service Corps volunteers are currently in the CCSC program
v Lauren welcomes placement opportunities for Service Corps volunteers
1. 12 mo. Placement (beginning Aug/early September)
2. ~ $16,000 charge to program
3. Contact Lauren with interest as the recruitment process begins Jan 2016
v Communications & PR- [Data request timeline] Rose
v Contact Rose & Stephanie for assistance with program brochures- creation & updates; they’ll provide the template
v Request for interested clients willing to share (interview, TV, photos, etc.) their experiences with Catholic Charities- program marketing, Appeal engagements (throughout the year)
v WNY Catholic newspaper is seeking a Christmas–edition story capturing the activities CC’s is doing to impact families during the holiday season; program representatives will spread the word
v Comprehensive School Services Program (CSS)- Laura
¨ Laura reported that the Principal at West Buffalo Charter School is very pleased with services. Mary Ferraro (5 days/wk) is very busy.
v Employee Assistance Program (EAP) collaborations- Laura
v Grand Island School District- Laura’s uncertain of the status of the contract
v Sweet Home School District- Laura’s uncertain of the status of the contract
v Family Support Center (FSC) Collaborations- Laura
¨ KenTon FSC- Laura noted “no updates”
¨ Sweet Home FSC- Laura reported continued collaboration
v Foster Grandparent Program (FGP)- Susan
¨ Currently have ~ 101 Foster Grandparents; Target total= 115
¨ Training will be provided for FGPs in December 2015
¨ Offering various activities via “Recognition & Special Events” budget
¨ Susan noted continued interest with filling S. Bflo schools- pending 2 at BPS #27 & total of 2-3 @ #72
¨ As FGP seeks to expand, will be @ Akron Elementary school & collaborating with Seneca St. Development Corp. afterschool program
v In-School Social Work Program (ISSWP)- Kathleen & Laura
v Responding to requests from Catholic schools outside of ISSWP contract
v As year begins, meetings with Principals to identify school needs & desired services
v Kathleen- N/A; Excused
o Catholic Academy- Bryan Saj (2 days/wk)
o OLV, Lackawanna- Bryan Saj (2 days/wk)
o St. Peter’s (Lewiston)- Mary Elizabeth Wellence (1.5 days/wk.)
v Laura:
o Notre Dame Academy- Lauren Rozmus (3 days/wk)- on disability; others covering during her absence
o Our Lady of Black Rock- Melissa Abrams (2 days/wk)
o Queen of Heaven- Jennifer Downie (3 days/wk)
o St. John the Baptist, Alden- Jennifer Downie (2 days/wk)
o St. John the Baptist, Ton.- Mimi Ferraro (2 days/wk)
o St. Aloysius, Springville- Lauren Rozmus (2 days/wk) )- on disability; others covering during her absence
o St. Joseph University- Mimi Ferraro (2 days/wk)
v School-based Mental Health Counseling Services (MCI)- Lori
v Elmwood Village Charter School (< 200 student enrollment forK-8th grade)
o Lori ( 3 full days/wk. with potential for expansion)
o Routinely meets with more than 25 students individually +facilitates small groups
v Traditional Site Facilitator Program- Closing the Gap (TSFP-CTG), School-Based Preventive Services (SBPS)/Intensive Mentoring Program (IM)- Meichle
¨ Traditional Site Facilitator Program (Closing the Gap)-remains in 6 schools; seeking additional funding to support the program model
o Currently investing in enhanced outcomes and database
¨ School-Based Preventive Services (SBPS) program
o Currently investing in enhanced outcomes and database
o Hiring for FSS in various schools
o Family Support Specialists (FSS) continue to recruit families; School personnel, families themselves, ECDSS and Catholic Charities agency program personnel are critical in the recruitment process; please refer & collaborate; Please talk with Meichle about eligibility
¨ Intensive Mentoring (IM)– continue to condition FSS for SBPS program
¨ Say Yes partnership
o Mental Health clinics- expanded in 2015; MCI expanded to BPS #37 [Jason & Sarah] (adding to BPS #43 [Jason] & BPS #93 [Sarah])
o Legal clinics- present in schools in 4 quadrants of Buffalo- legal advice
v School Intervention Service- Mary Ann & Laura
v Mary Ann (Cheektowaga)- N/A- Excused
v Laura (Amherst & Kenmore)
o City of Tonawanda (KenTon)
o Amherst (Amherst)
§ Met with Youth Board members for annual review
§ Amherst (FAST referrals)
· Amherst team- participating in Task Force re: drug use
· Windemere school- Collaboration group regarding separation & divorce
· Amherst schools- recruiting a new Superintendent
§ Sweet Home FSC referrals
· Michelle Martin & Corinne Curvin will be providing school-based counseling services in Sweet Home schools
v Workforce & Education Programs- Jim
¨ TYT (16-21 yr. olds)- WIOA funding
o Pending redefined outcomes in 2016
o In process of obtaining additional grants
o Strive to creatively honor eligibility criteria
o In multiple locations in City of Buffalo/Lackawanna
§ TriMain Bldg, Kerns Ave., 525 Washington St., Lovejoy, Maguire Hall (S. Bflo), Seneca Babcock Comm. Center ,
Caldwell Pl. (Lackawanna)
§ Interested in W. Side- Belle Center? Our Lady of Hope?
¨ Project Jump Start (14-17 yrs. old) referred by JJ system, FST or probation
o Erie County DMH extended& increased 2016 funding for the program for service to target 50 youth for the year (reality is, they serve more)
§ 2 teachers to provide in-school/afterschool education & tutoring with goal of increased student attendance [9 am-3 pm]
§ 12 students/teacher; targeted service period of 4 mos.
§ City of Buffalo & 1st ring outside of City of Buffalo
§ Pending Sweet Home
VII. Community Collaborations
v ANYSYB conference
o Thank you to Karen Rumsey & Clark Stein for presenting the Mindfulness workshop
o Thank you to student interns @ NF’s office- assisted with registration
v WNY Youth Bureau- Next meeting: 11.18.15
v Catholic Schools partnership- Next meeting: 12.1.15 1:30 pm @ 795 Main St.
v WNY FSC Coalition- Next meeting: 11.4.15 @ Renaissance House
v KenTon Family Support Center Steering Committee
o 2016 meetings: 3.4.16 & 6.10.16 @ 8:30 am
o Offering a variety of programs for youth & families
ü Theraplay- January 2016 (Parent-child workshops for 4-6 yr. olds to facilitate child development & build executive functioning & independent decision-making)
ü HOPS (Homework, Organization & Study Skills)
ü iRest meditation
ü Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children and Adolescents (January 2016) (Psychoeducational groups for parents and children on the spectrum)
v Sweet Home Family Support Center Steering Committee- 2016 meetings: 11.6.15, 2.6.16 & 5.6.16 @ 8:45 am
VIII. Emerging trends/themes- what are we noticing?
v Not discussed today
IX. Best Hopes of 2016 School Services Collaboration
v IMPACT! Youth and families’ non-academic needs will be addressed with increased demonstration of student achievement
¨ Increasing program utilization via internal linkage and referral
1. Marketing/Program promotion opportunities- Raising awareness about agency programs and services
· Individual program promotion strategies- outreach, participation at team meetings, etc.
· Utilize intranet, InfoLink and Facebook/Twitter as forum for sharing news & updates, announcements, and events/activities.
· Upload comprehensive School-based Services manual with program/service description, eligibility criteria and enrollment procedures onto intranet
· Keep program/service descriptions updated/current on website (ccwny.org) and intranet
· Request opportunity to present on School-Based Services at Agency Leadership meeting?
¨ Familiarity with School-Based Services teams
1. Upload team directories on intranet
¨ Smooth referral procedures- Maximize ease with intra-program linkage
¨ Develop agency-wide school-related MMRS team available for consultation(consultation/in-service or training) & direct response to schools, parishes
X. 2016 School Services Collaboration meeting agenda items
v Consent for Treatment of children policies & procedures
For 12.15.15 meeting:
v Meichle will:
1. Follow-up with Carol Kostyniak regarding the needs assessment summary prepared by Diane Bessel, Daemen College
2. Follow-up with Arry regarding update to CC’s intranet to also reflect MCI school-based mental health services under School-Based Services
3. Submit meeting minutes to Comm/PR for uploading to intranet
v Everyone will:
1. Enter program and program team information into Google Forms
2. Bring program consents for treatment of children for review, discussion and next steps for uniform & consistent Policy & Procedure (including ages)
3. Review their program/service brochures/fliers and & partner with Central Services to revise/edit/print them
2015 Meeting schedule
(Bi-monthly meeting: @ 9 am @ 20 Rich St.)
Date Time Location Reserved by
December 15th 9:00 am 20 Rich St. Lori R.
2016 Meeting schedule
(Quarterly meetings: 9 am @ 20 Rich St.)
Date Time Location Reserved by
February 16th 9:00 am 20 Rich St. Lori R.
May 24th 9:00 am 20 Rich St. Lori R.
August 30th 9:00 am 20 Rich St. Lori R.
November 22nd 9:00 am 20 Rich St. Lori R.
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