Best Practices for Working with Multiple Stakeholders to Engage High School Students and their Families in Community School Programming

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1 Best Practices for Working with Multiple Stakeholders to Engage High School Students and their Families in Community School Programming

2 Who We Are OUR MISSION Youth Guidance creates and implements school-based programs that enable at-risk children to overcome obstacles, focus on their education and, ultimately, to succeed in school and in life.

3 Our Work Founded in 1924, Youth Guidance has been serving Chicago s most at-risk youth for more than 90 years. Currently, Youth Guidance reaches more than 14,000 elementary through high school students in 80 schools, leading them toward positive futures through schoolbased programs that guide them academically, socially, and emotionally

4 Youth Guidance Programs Community & After-School Full-Service Community Schools Integrated Counseling Support Parent & Family Engagement Counseling & Prevention B.A.M. W.O.W. Youth Workforce Development

5 John Hancock College Prep School Profile Located in the West Elsdon Neighborhood on the Southwest side of Chicago CPS neighborhood school, transitioning to CTE/Selective Enrollment 95.0% Hispanic, 2.1% White, 1.2% Black 93.5% Low Income 6.9% Limited English Learners 8.5% Diverse Learners 907 students enrolled

6 John Hancock College Prep: Milestones Fall 2011 School Improvement Grant begins at JHCP with NCS as lead partner NCS contracts YG to lead community school and SEL supports Fall 2013 JHCP implements CARE team, SAS team Fall 2014 Youth Guidance receives 21 st century grant to continue Community School Programming at JHCP Fall 2015 JHCP is named a TIER 1 School Daily attendance rate has improved to 90.7% 94.1% of students on track to graduate Spring 2010 JHCP is on probation and is ranked in the bottom 5% of schools in IL Attendance is 78.2% Spring 2011 JHCP is on Probation, Level 3 Spring 2012 JHCP is on Probation Level 2 Spring 2013 OFF Probation Spring 2014 JHCP is Level 2+ Spring of 2015 JHCP is awarded a National Community School for Excellence Award

7 Engaging Adolescents & their Families What unique challenges have you encountered engaging High School students and their families at your school?

8 Engaging High School Students: Key Challenges Competing Partners & Programs Competing Choices (hanging out with friends/relaxing at home) Competing Responsibilities (i.e. need to work, take care of siblings) Appealing to at-risk students

9 Engaging High School Students: Moving from a Culture of Competition to Collaboration RC is the school wide gate keeper that ensures that resources are aligned to need (i.e. we can t have two similar programs competing for the same kids) External partners integrated into school leadership teams, with a focus on meeting school wide goals rather than partner enrollment targets Partners and school staff collaborate to plan school wide event and initiatives

10 Engaging HS Students: Adolescent Development IDENTITY: Who am I? What will I become when I grow up? What makes me special? BELONGING: How do I fit into society? Will other accept me? Where do I belong? College & Career Exploration Possible Selves Youth leadership opportunities, special roles within the group Opportunities for kids to demonstrate & share their special talents Programs give students a place to belong within the school T-shirts/gear so students can identify as a member of the group Teambuilding/ Space for social connections Student/ staff relationship building Illusion of selectivity

11 Engaging HS Students: Adolescent Development

12 Engaging High School Students: At-Risk Youth Community School with robust mental health supports: counseling, TIER 2 supports such as BAM & WOW Care team that meets to discuss personalized solutions for struggling students Offer programming & supports that take place during the school day Work close with counselors to refer students in TIER 2 & 3 supports to afterschool programming Recognize that afterschool programs have a positive impact on grades & attendance and do not take them away from kids as punishment!

13 Engaging High School Students: At-Risk Youth

14 Parent & Family Engagement Core Service Components *Annual Parent Leadership Conference *Leadership Development for Parent Leaders *Coaching and Support Professional Development These services are designed to equip parent leaders with the specific skills that enhance their ability to support their children s educational experience and improve school outcomes.

15 Services provided at John Hancock for Parents Parent University PAC BAC LSC Volunteering Cultural Events

16 Parent as supportive partners. volunteers. Structured and sponsored opportunities for creative and self-determined initiatives that will aid in school goals and cultural-building. System for parent volunteers including a streamlined need process for signing-up and matching with available volunteer opportunities Capturing parents input through My School/ My Voice survey Family Literacy Night Community Health Night Cultural events outside of school Goals

17 Questions? Kathryn Rice School Resource Coordinator Ivette Contreras Parent & Family Engagement Coordinator