A Panel Discussion
What is a community school?
A community school is both a place
and a set of partnerships between
the school and other community
resources.
What is a community school?
An integrated focus on:
 Academics
 health and social services
 youth and community development
 community engagement
That leads to:
 improved student learning
 stronger families
 healthier communities
An easier way to explain…
Conventional School Model
Community School Model
Results-Focused
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Students attend regularly.
Students achieve academically.
Students are engaged and motivated—civically and
academically.
Students are healthy—physically, emotionally,
mentally.
Families are involved and supportive—of children
and their education.
Schools, families and community work together.
Schools are safe—for students, parents, and school
staff.
Communities are desirable places to live.
Research Findings
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Student gains in academic achievement and nonacademic development widely evident; improved
attendance
Parent/family participation seen as instrumental
to children’s success; lower rates of mobility
Schools have stronger staff and parent
relationships, improved school climate and greater
community support;
Community is stronger – improved safety and
connections among people.
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We have
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Rainelle Medical Center-has school based
health in all four of our secondary schools
and a Mental Health Counselor in three.
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Local dentists are doing screenings,
cleanings, and sealants in all our
elementary schools
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CIS GC are providing social services in our
two middle schools and three of our nine
elementary schools
CISGC
CISGC Programs Established in January
2004,Communities In Schools of Greenbrier
County (CISGC), operating under Communities
In Schools of Southeast West Virginia
(CISSEWV), is a non-profit stay-in-school
organization dedicated to:
"surrounding students with a community of
support, empowering them to stay in school and
achieve in life."
Why do we have in GCS
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Started with a person who had worked for CIS
in Texas.
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Board of Education has supported with dollars.
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GCS has supported with space and referrals
and inclusion in our meeting or staff
development as appropriate.
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County administration has supported with a
presence on their board and fund raising.
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Because it is good for students and student
achievement.
The Money side of it
To sustain the programs, they need to raise $160,000 a year.
As we work to grow our program, we need an additional
$40,000 for each new site (primarily to sustain the salary for
one additional full-time site coordinator). For more
information, they can contact Kim Groover at 304-520-4938
or kgroover@cisgc.org.
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Visionary Partner , $10,000+ Board of Education is this level
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Leadership Partner, $5,000 - $9,999
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Mission Advocate, $3,000 - $4,999
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Community Supporter, $1,000 - $2,999
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Program Partner, $500 - $999
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Friends of CISGC, Gifts up to $500
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Partners providing in-kind support.
A service of School-Based Health Centers
The Process
Determine the need
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Where is the closest community mental health care
provider?
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Does the principal/counselor want you in the school?
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Is there enough of a need (i.e. disciplinary problems,
academic deficiencies, social issues, abuse) to justify a
mental health care provider?
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Is there a substance abuse problem in the
community/school?
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Does Board of Education support and approve?
Outside Agency or In-house
Mental Health Care Providers
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Psychologist/Psychiatrist
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Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
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Licensed Professional Counselor
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Recruiting
Billing and Reimbursement
 Medicaid/FQHC credentialing
 Insurances
 Deductibles and co-pays?
Grant funding
 WV Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities
 Foundations
 SAMHSA
Referrals and Protocols
How will students be referred to the SBMH provider?
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Self or parent referrals
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School counselor, principal
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Teachers
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Friends
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Screenings
Appointments and walk ins
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Appointments are scheduled but walk-ins happen
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Usually 30-60 minutes
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Every effort made to not pull from core classes
Crisis Interventions and
Supportive Counseling
 Grief counseling
 Supportive counseling
 Phone consults
 Court appearances
 Non billable
How does SBMH contribute to
community schools?
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Universal prevention activities and presentations
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Targeted interventions
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Intensive therapy
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Substance abuse therapy
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SBMH reduces absences
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Disciplines are usually lower
Contact Information
Pat Withrow
Director, School Nurses
Greenbrier Co. Schools
pwithrow@access.k12.wv.us
(304) 647-6470
Judy Koehler
Director, School-Based Health
Rainelle Medical Center
jkoehler@rmchealth.org
304.438.6188 ext. 1020
Ellenda M. Ward
Executive Director
Communities in Schools
Cabell County
cabellcis@gmail.com
304-638-8836
Paula Fields, MSN
Community Schools Coordinator
WV Department of Education
prfields@access.k12.wv.us
304-558-8830