Description
The NC InCK team discussed school supports, collaboration, and holistic care management during their second conversation about Schools in the September 2023 Integrated Care Rounds.
Click this link for the September 2023 Schools Integrated Care Rounds Slide Deck.
Key Takeaways
- Family Navigators are Connectors: Due to the large amount of time students spend in school, collaborating with the school system can help increase access to services that address social, behavioral, and health needs. School personnel are with the student daily and can help a family accept a referral or engage in care management.
- Family Navigators are Advocates: School supports such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Section 504 Plans are underutilized in North Carolina! In the U.S., NC ranks 46th in providing appropriate in-school support and accommodations for children with mental health needs and 50th in suspending children with disabilities. These statistics disproportionally affect Black students. Effectively communicating a child’s educational needs empowers families to speak up if they are not being met.
- Family Navigators Understand: Asking the right questions, and listening to children and families can reveal challenges such as bullying, housing insecurity, absenteeism and more. Understanding these experiences will ensure holistic care management supports are in place.
Resources
- NC Center for Afterschool Programs – Website that allows you to search for afterschool programs by zip code and filter by grades served and activities offered.
- Just U & Me Mentoring Program – A mentoring program that engages Vance County fifth-grade students in social-emotional intervention strategies that will help them improve classroom participation and academic success; meets weekly on Saturdays from 9am – 12pm.
- Durham Performance Learning Center – A program that helps high school students who aren't succeeding in traditional school get back on track for graduation in small classes with 1:15 teacher student ratio. Students may be recommended by current/ previous school, but families can apply independently as well.
- ICR Appendix – Several resources listed including IEP/ Special Education Guides, before and after school programs, school resources by NC InCK County, and education related Value Added Benefits offered through each PHP.