Engagement through Outreach
For the coming year one of our major concentrations in regards to student engagement will be directed towards the students at our school that are displaying the most significant levels of disengagement. Many of these students have a long history of struggles with the school system, well established patterns of school avoidance, and often significant barriers to learning that are at the root of their struggles. Mountainside Directions has decided to make the re-engagement of this demographic of students an area of priority and we have created our Outreach Program to lead this intervention.
How does it work?
Once the decision has been made to have a student placed on Outreach, they will no longer be enrolled in in-school academic and elective courses. Instead, they will be enrolled in Outreach, and supported by a team of 2 staff members. These staff members will:
What Supports might be available?
Each students outreach experience will likely be different, just as each student is unique in their strengths and areas of growth. Our Outreach Team will personalize supports/services, but may include one or more of the following:
How long will it last?
As long as it takes for a student to make some progress in the areas that they were struggling with. This could last anywhere from a few weeks, to a few months, depending on progress, and what the team feels is in the best interest of the student.
How does it work?
Once the decision has been made to have a student placed on Outreach, they will no longer be enrolled in in-school academic and elective courses. Instead, they will be enrolled in Outreach, and supported by a team of 2 staff members. These staff members will:
- Make contact with student and family to arrange a meeting. This meeting will:
- Explore why Outreach is being offered (What were the barriers to the school based program)
- What strengths will serve as a good starting point
- What are the criteria for re-entering the school based program
- What 1-2 supports can be put in place
- Arrange to meet with students to work on re-entrance goals and track progress
- Connect students with needed community based supports that may come up
- Connect students with specific, appropriate, school located services listed above
- Make plans for re-entrance into school based program (when student is ready)
What Supports might be available?
Each students outreach experience will likely be different, just as each student is unique in their strengths and areas of growth. Our Outreach Team will personalize supports/services, but may include one or more of the following:
- Weekly phone call or text message conversation to check in
- In person meetings scheduled to connect more personally
- Support in connecting with community mental health, drug and alcohol, housing, employment, and food agencies
- Skills based personal assessments
- Level B educational and learning styles assessments
- Potential continuation or creation of connection with in school offerings mentioned previously
How long will it last?
As long as it takes for a student to make some progress in the areas that they were struggling with. This could last anywhere from a few weeks, to a few months, depending on progress, and what the team feels is in the best interest of the student.