Relevant Research - Depression Leading Cause of Global Disability ~

Mental disorders rank among the top ten illnesses causing disability-more than 37 percent worldwide-with depression being the leading cause of disability among people ages 15 and older, according to the Global Burden of Disease and Risk Factors published in 2006. Yet, the world's mental health care needs are largely going unmet, especially in less developed nations (but also in high- income countries), according to results from a new survey of 17 countries conducted as part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) World Mental Health Survey Initiative. To access the full press release, go to: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/press/wang_globalhealth.cfm

What Parents Should Ask High School Counselors Tips for helping high school students get ready for college
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/articles/070822/22counselors.htm
Between baseball practices and play rehearsals, it can be hard to find time to talk to your kids about college much less chat with their high school counselor. But with the number of applications to college setting records every year, it's more important than ever. So we asked a few counselors from different types of schools across the country some of the questions they get asked most often. And because they also are parents of kids that have gone off to college, our three counselors have an extra-sharp focus on what you should be discussing in your next appointment in the guidance office.

Toolfind http://www.toolfind.org/

Welcome to Toolfind from United Way! Toolfind is a free directory designed to help professionals in youth-serving programs find measurement tools for up to 11 youth outcome areas. Your time is valuable, so we have identified

46 tools to help you get started. All tools address one or more of the outcome areas, are tested, low-cost and have few restrictions. Tools included in this database address elementary, middle and/or high school students and youth, parent, staff and teacher respondents.

The NSDUH Report: Depression and the Initiation of Alcohol and Other Drug Use among Youths Aged 12 to 17 is available on the Web at <<http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k7/newUserDepression/newUserDepression.cfm>>. Copies may be obtained free of charge by calling SAMHSA's Health Information Network at 1-877-SAMHSA-7 (1-877-726-4727). Request inventory number NSDUH07-0503. For related publications and information, visit <<http://www.samhsa.gov/>>.

As we all have seen this week, the Virginia Tech University shootings have had a profound effect on students, parents and staff members alike. Our professional training, and the position of trust we hold, has school counselors in the role of comforting, advising, and helping individuals reflect on the senseless and tragic incident that took place. The California Association of School Counselors (CASC) would like to provide you with some resources and some reminders about school shooting that may help you as you help others in the next few weeks.

As we all have seen this week, the Virginia Tech University shootings have had a profound effect on students, parents and staff members alike. Our professional training, and the position of trust we hold, has school counselors in the role of comforting, advising, and helping individuals reflect on the senseless and tragic incident that took place. The California Association of School Counselors (CASC) would like to provide you with some resources and some reminders about school shooting that may help you as you help others in the next few weeks.

It is important to understand that school shootings are extremely rare and that high profile incidents like Virginia Tech and Columbine tend to overshadow the fact that violent crime has been steadily decreasing in schools since the early 1990s. With that said, we also realize that no community is immune to such incidents, and that we must do everything possible to ensure the safety of our students.

As you know, with all of the disturbing television and newspaper images coming from this most recent tragedy, it is normal for children to experience a wide range of emotions including shock, confusion, anger, hostility and denial or inability to acknowledge the situation has occurred. Most children are able to deal with their emotions with adequate support from family, friends, and school personnel. At home, parents are encouraged to reduce the radio and television exposure to this event and talk to their children about what they have seen or heard in the media.

For more information on how to help your students, staff and parents, the following may be helpful:

• Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress; www.aaets.org/parentguidelines.pdf

Talking to students about violence http://www.talkingwithkids.org/violence.html

• California Department of Education, Counseling and Student Support Services Branch; Information on coping with Tuesday's Tragedy, www.cde.ca.gov/ls/cg/mh/
• American School Counselor Association; www.schoolcounselor.org
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA for Kids); General guidelines about helping children in a disaster, www.fema.gov/kids/tch_after.htm
• National Emergency Assistance Team-School Safety/Violence prevention - www.nasponline.org
• Tips for helping students cope with trauma- www.apa.org
• ASSESSING WHETHER A STUDENT MIGHT COMMIT A VIOLENT ACT, crisis prevention and response, depression, post traumatic stress, safe schools and violence prevention  -  see http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/
  • Crisis Prevention and Response - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/p2107_01.htm
  • Depression - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/depression.htm
  • Grief and Bereavement - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/p3003_01.htm
  • Post-traumatic Stress - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/ptsd.htm
  • Prevention for Students at Risk - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/prevention.html
  • Safe Schools and Violence Prevention - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/p2108_03.htm
  • Threat Assessment: Resources and Cautions - http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/threatassessment.html

The following from LACOE’s School Mental Health Center may be helpful to you in the aftermath of yesterday’s tragedy at Virginia Tech. This is also available as a document at School Mental Health Center web page (www.lacoe/edu/smh). For additional assistance, you may also contact Dr. Michael Pines at 562 922-6897, or by e-mail at pines_michael@lacoe.edu.

Student Support Guidelines Following Virginia Tech Campus Tragedy

In the aftermath of the shooting at Virginia Tech Monday, we should remember that universities and schools are often the targets of tragic events. As the media continues to cover the story, our students and their families are reminded about past school shooting incidents and it is important that adults provide comfort and stability at school and at home.

Everyone is expected to have some reaction, and students may have a need to discuss these events. We believe that classroom teachers have the greatest opportunity to reinforce the fact that schools are the safest place to be. Therefore, we urge administrators and mental health teams to support teachers. Teachers are urged to encourage students to express their fears in an atmosphere that is non-judgmental and supportive.

Teachers and administrators should understand that no two people respond to crisis situations in the same manner. Reactions include:

• Shock, numbness
• Denial or inability to acknowledge the situation has occurred
• Appearing dazed, apathetic, expressing feelings of unreality
• Confusion
• Disorganization
• Difficulty making decisions, and
• Suggestibility

These are expected reactions. Most children will recover with adequate support from family, friends, and school personnel. At home, parents are encouraged to reduce the radio and television exposure to this event and discuss with their children what they have seen on the air. Older children can generally tolerate higher levels of exposure.

In some children the reactions may be so extreme that they should be referred for counseling. Have information about the location of counseling resources and encourage teachers to refer students to school-based resources throughout the day. Mental health resources should also be available for teachers and other staff who need counseling support.

Teacher Guidelines for Crisis Response are available at: http://www.aaets.org/teacherguidelines.pdf. Permission for reproduction and dissemination of this document is created by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. You may download this information and distributed it to teachers.

Another resource for elementary school teachers is posted on the FEMA for Kids web page. Go to http://www.fema.gov/kids/tch_help.htm. School mental health personnel (counselors, psychologists, nurses) should be available to consult with teachers as needed. It is recommended that administrators and counselors visit each teacher to reassure and support them.

Students experiencing extreme reactions should be referred to school counselors, school nurses and school psychologists.

Finally, schools should communicate with parents for guidelines on how to support their children. Parent Guidelines for Crisis Response by the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, is posted at http://www.aaets.org/parentguidelines.pdf .

The Academy has other documents that may be of interest. Go to http://www.aaets.org/documents.htm for a complete listing.

For additional information, questions or assistance contact the Division of Student Support Services School Mental Health Center at (562) 922-6987

Other School Mental Health Recovery Resources

The following WEB-based resources contain information to facilitate recovery to pre-crisis functioning and learning at school.

California Department of Education, Counseling and Student Support Services Branch

Information on coping with Tuesday’s Tragedy, http://www.cde.ca.gov/spbranch/ssp/

NEA Crisis Communications Guide Info

The home page for the guide is http://www.nea.org/crisis/

American School Counselor Association

http://www.schoolcounselor.org 

UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools

Go to the Center Response section and scroll to "Crisis Prevention and Response." http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA for Kids)

Some terrorism-specific information is available at: http://www.fema.gov/kids/terrism.htm.

Other general guidelines about helping children in a disaster are also helpful. at  http://www.fema.gov/kids/tch_after.htm.

If your children or students would like to submit artwork of support or sympathy to first responders or victims, go to: http://www.fema.gov/kids/k2k_form.htm for information on how to submit.

American Psychological Association Practice Directorate

http://www.apa.org/practice/ptindex.html

Public education materials to help kids cope with terrorism

United States Department of Education

http://www.ed.gov/inits/september11/index/html

Helping children understand terrorist attacks

Education Week: Schools and Crisis

http://www.edweek.com/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=03resources.h212&keywords=terrorism

Helping children understand terrorist attacks

National Parent Information Network

http://npin.org/library/2001/n00578/n00578.htm.

For additional questions, please email Rosemary Rubin, chair of CASC crisis team at rosemary.rubin@lausd.net or call her (818) 755-5408.

"Getting Down to Facts" is a research project of more than 20 studies designed to provide California’s citizens with comprehensive information about the status of the state’s school finance and governance systems. The overall hypothesis underlying this research project is that improvement to California’s school finance and governance structures could enable its schools to be more effective. For More Information go to: http://irepp.stanford.edu/projects/cafinance.htm

TRPI Latino Student Scholarship Directory

In 2005 the TRPI undertook a study to identify all the organizations in Southern California where Southern California Latino students and parents could receive information about, or apply for, college scholarships and grants .

Among the outcomes of the study was a recommendation for organi- zations to actively disseminate hard copies of online data, as the online scholarship search process was found to be time-consuming and complicated.

The difficulties of online scholarship searches were furthermore found to be compounded by the reality that many Latino households do not have Internet access. Any online search is likely to be undertaken at a library or school, where time on a shared computer is limited.

In 2006, in response to these findings, TRPI commissioned the devel- opment of this printed scholarship directory.

It should be noted that, while TRPI researchers recognized that there would be value in including all organizations, nationally, to which Latino students could apply for scholarships,such an undertaking was beyond the scope of the project. Download the directory here.

Recently, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell, issued a press release announcing the top 10 achievements for the California Department of Education in 2006. Both The Real Game California™ and the California CareerZone were in the list! (see #5, bullet #5):  http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr06/yr06rel161.asp

Last June CDE helped launch the start of both of these CalCRN resources. "California CareerZone and The Real Game California are wonderful hands-on programs that give students opportunities to assess their own skills and determine the type of jobs they want in the future," said O’Connell.

To access the California CareerZone, go to www.CACareerZone.org

For more information on the new The Real Game California, see the attached 2-page flyer and price list for ordering the currriculum. We believe The Real Game California is the single best tool for equipping our middle school and older K-12 students with the career/ life self-management skills they will need for their future.

Please call our office (916-323-6544) for more information.

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Free "How to Get to College" Posters
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The California State University (CSU) system is offering free "How to Get to College" posters that "we want to see in the room of every middle and high school student in the state," says Joan Bissell from the CSU Chancellor's Office. The posters are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean. With support from the Boeing Corporation, half a million posters have already been sent out to middle and high school teachers. Posters can be downloaded from http://www.calstate.edu/college/poster.shtml or can be ordered from the Chancellor's Office at http://www.calstate.edu/college/requestposter.asp

move to collge prep/seconDARY PLANNING