Southwest Key Programs Plan of Action - Phoenix
I. Summary
A. School Description
1. Address: 7th Ave and Buckeye
Program Director: Maria Rios
Phone:
Email: mrios@swkey.org
2. School description (grade levels, etc.)
Southwest Key Unaccompanied Minors Programs
Southwest Key Program is currently the largest provider of shelter care services to
unaccompanied minors in the United States. Southwest Key has been providing services
to at risk youth for over 20 years, refugee services since 1987 and shelter care for
unaccompanied minors since 1996. This experience and accumulated knowledge that
allows them to work successfully with unaccompanied minor populations.
Many unaccompanied minors from all over the world leave their countries of origin
seeking a better life in the United States. These children, 17 years of age and younger,
enter the United States by the thousands every year. Some are escaping unbearable living
conditions in their home countries, others have family they are searching for, while still
others have little else than a desire for the opportunities available in the United States.
The Southwest Key Unaccompanied Minors Programs serve youth who enter the United
States illegally without parents or adult guardians and have been detained by immigration
officials.
The shelter care services provided are guided by a resiliency framework and strengthbased approach. The many components of our programs strive to maximize the minors’
potential by employing the minors’ strengths and the environmental resources. Services
are based on client self-determination and a strong collaborative service delivery.
Services include shelter, nourishment, medical services, clothing, personal items, case
management, counseling, education, recreation and social and vocational skills. The
programs honor and respect individual cultures and traditions, as well as offer
opportunities for acculturation.
The average length of care is approximately 33 days, in which time the minor awaits the
resolution of their legal case. Reunifying the youth with relatives living in the United
States or back in their country of origin is the program’s main objective. However, some
youth stay in the program up to 1 year.
The programs honor and respect individual cultures and traditions, providing services in a
nurturing, therapeutic environment while encouraging personal and academic
development and facilitating personal growth. This includes employing a culturally
diverse staff so as to reflect the cultures and languages of the minors in our care. The
physical environment is reflective of children and of their cultural diversity; this includes
decorations, posters, books, games, celebrations, religious services and other
entertainment. Although services are provided in the minors native languages, English
classes and exposure to American norms are provided to help the minors’ transition in
this country. Youth also learn about the languages and cultures of their peers. This helps
them begin to understand the complexities of living in a multi-cultural society.
Specific Program Services
Permanency
Our staff works with government officials, family members, community service
providers, and most importantly the young people themselves to develop a dependable
permanency plan that ensures the young person's safety. By collaborating with the
various entities our programs experience a high level of success in connecting youth to
family members and/or developing foster home placements as needed.
Case Management Services
The caseworkers are responsible for assessing, developing, monitoring and facilitating all
components of client reunification process, political asylum process and voluntary
departure process. Caseworkers work collaboratively with the Office of Refugee and
Resettlement: Department of Unaccompanied Children’s Services as well as with the
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Florence Project attorneys, consulates of the various countries represented and the
client’s family members world wide.
Legal Services
Upon arrival at the facility, all youth are informed of their right to legal counsel. Pro
bono and fee-based legal representation is made available at the minor's request.
Confidential settings are provided for the client to speak with legal counsel by telephone
or in person. If a client has not expressed interest in meeting with legal counsel prior to
the court hearing, the court assigns an attorney on the date of the hearing.
Mental Health Services
Individual and group Mental Health Services are provided in the minors native
languages. Clients entering the programs present a variety of psychosocial stressors
including relocation, concern about legal status, separation from family of origin,
acculturation difficulties, post-traumatic stress disorders, life-skills, and history of
developmental delays, mental health disorders, substance abuse, domestic violence, and
physical and sexual abuse. Strength based interventions are provided according to the
symptoms presented by each client.
Educational Services
The Educational Program will be provided by Maricopa County Regional School District.
Recreational Services
Recreational curriculums expose youth to new and positive ways to spend free time, to
improve social skills and mastery over the environment. Our program utilizes a myriad
of group and individual activities such as team sports, field trips and cultural events.
Youth have the opportunity to participate in intramural sports activities within the
campus and with other local community sports teams. These activities help teach
teamwork and sportsmanship, while also providing physical exercise to the young people.
To introduce and model life in the United States, youth are exposed to as many daily life
experiences and community interactions as possible. Field trips include but are not
limited to science and cultural museums, art exhibits, multicultural celebrations, and
community activities. Community participation includes volunteering in the local area
with the senior citizens centers, Habitat for Humanity projects, peer groups and local
homeless kitchens and volunteer venues that expand their understanding of life in the
United States.
Medical Services
New arrivals are provided physical examinations, immunizations and TB plants within 48
hours of their arrival to the program. Pregnancy tests are provided to female clients
within child bearing age. Female clients are provided immunizations one month after
arrival to the program for precautionary measures. The programs also provides specific
services for clients that arrive in need of specialized services such as, but not limited to,
pre-natal care, parenting classes, pediatrics, psychiatric services, vision and dental
services.
3. Vision and Mission Statements:
Vision
Empowering students to take control of their future by providing an education that
inspires and enables them to develop an unshakable belief in their own potential.
Mission
Preparing our students for their successful transition into the global community within an
alternative educational setting.
4. Instructional focus:
Students attending Southwest Key Transitional Learning Center will focus on ELL/SEI
instruction in order to allow the students to show improvement in English Acquisition.
The ELL/SEI curriculum follows the ELL Proficiency Standards which are aligned to
Arizona State Standards. Student also receive Social Studies and Math instruction.
II. Market Analysis
A. Description of the area or market/ district(s) that the school will serve
Due to the fact that all of the students attending this site will be unaccompanied youth
there will be no need for a marketing plan.
B. Target market/student population (what segment of district's population you
plan to serve?)
Due to the fact that all of the students attending this site will be unaccompanied youth
there will be no need for a marketing plan.
C. Competition - other school(s) seeking the same student population to include
private, public, magnet, parochial and other charter schools
MCRSD does not view any schools in the area as competition, upon release from the
program students will return to their home country or enter into foster care. Students will
enroll in their home school upon release from the program.
III. Marketing Strategy
A. Overall strategy (awareness for students and parents)
Due to the fact that all of the students attending this site will be unaccompanied youth
there will be no need for a marketing plan.
B. Specific admission and recruiting plans and policies
Due to the fact that all of the students attending this site will be unaccompanied youth
there will be no need for a marketing plan.
IV. Management Plan
A. School Board and Advisory Council Members:
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Dr. Don Covey, Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools
Ms. Donna McHenry, Advisory Council President
Mr. Harry Valenzuela Garewal Jr., Advisory Council Vice President
Dr. Stuart Turnansky, Advisory Council Member
Mr. Scott Holcomb, Advisory Council Member
Mr. David Adame, Advisory Council Member
B. Administrator(s): organization chart and responsibilities (if applicable)
C. Staffing plan/number of employees:
Maricopa County Regional school district will provide 16 paraprofessionals, 2 lead
teachers, 1 registrar, and 1 ELL/Hearing/Visions clerk and an outside Administrator to
oversee the educational operation.
D. Facility plan/ planned capital improvements (omit if included with your
application)
Southwest Key will be responsible for the facility and MCRSD will only occupy the
classrooms.
E. Operating plan/schedule of work for next year.
V. Financial Data
2014 - 2015
(All Expenditures have been pro-rated for the remainder of the current school year)
A. Projected Budget
B. Explanations of assumptions underlying the budget and projections.
a.
MCRSD will provide substitute teachers for summer school and intersession days,
excluding Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day,
Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day,
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Spring Recess and Memorial Day.
b.
Partnering Program will reimburse the cost of substitute teachers for summer
school and intersession to MCRSD at the current substitute rate plus benefits.
c. Mesa Location - Because the initial start of the program at Mesa begins at the end of
the 2014 school year there will be no additional funds to the district until after the
40th day (If approved by ADE). Therefore, it will be required that MCRSD offsets
the cost of the program with funds from Southwest Key for Mesa. The Southwest
Key Program has agreed to provide funding for the staffing and operation necessary
for the first school year.
d. VI. Timeline
First Day of School
First Intersession Days (4 Days)
Second Intersession Days (8 Days)
Third Intersession Days (5 Days)
Last Day of School
Summer School (33 Days)