PASAP News

Twelve local schools held Mini-THONs during the 2015-16 school year and in doing so helped raise more than $5.5 million for Four Diamonds, an organization that helps children with cancer.
York Dispatch
Full story

The PDE Office of Safe School's School Climate Leadership Initiative (SCLI) is a new effort focused on building capacity for school climate leadership in Commonwealth through the establishment of networked learning communities focused on building safer, more supportive schools.    This year, SCLI will provide an opportunity for individuals to be trained in the National School Climate Center's (NSCC) School Climate Improvement Process.  Trainer candidates, from each of Pennsylvania’s Intermediate Units, are currently participating in NSCC’s online learning modules, in-person trainings and ongoing coaching. These trainer candidates, known as School Climate Regional Coordinators (SCRCs), will be working with at least 2 building level school climate improvement teams (newly formed or existing teams/committees). 

Schools have many initiatives, curricula, programs and strategies in place which address school climate improvement.  However, they often report a need to identify and utilize an organized process (best practice) to do this important work.  When a strategic process is not utilized the result can be another "program de jour" based on the reaction to data or an isolated incident.
The NSCC School Climate Improvement Process is not a program and most importantly involves the five following stages:

•       Stage one or "Preparation" assists schools in forming a team or examining an existing committee whose focus is school climate improvement and obtaining buy-in from staff to complete the process from start to finish.
•       Stage two or "Evaluation" helps schools examine existing data or collect new data which will help to identify needs as they relate to school climate.  This can include data such as SAP data, PA Youth Survey Data, PA School Climate Survey data and incidents reported on the Safe Schools Annual report. 
•       Stage three or "Action Planning" assists schools with aligning strategies to address identified needs.
•       Stage four or "Implementation" involves the actual implementation of strategies listed on the action plan.
•       Stage five or "Re-evaluation" consists of collecting and examining current data to determine progress made or adjustments needed to existing strategies.

The NSCC School Climate Leadership Certification will provide SCRCs with a high level of understanding of these 5 stages and position them to provide schools with the support, expertise and guidance needed to create and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.  For more information, please contact Stacie Molnar-Main at c-smolnarm@pa.gov.

On July 10, 2015 Governor Wolf signed PA House Bill 229 into law.

HB 229 is now Act 26 of 2015.  Act 26 amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of harassment.

Act 26:

1.       Defines cyber harassment of a child and makes it a crime.

2.       Explains what occurs if a juvenile is charged with this offense.

3.       Defines the following: emotional distress, repeatedly communicates and seriously disparaging statement.

4.       Becomes effective September 8, 2015.

For more information or to read the law, please visithttp://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=229

I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) is a universal school-based program that focuses on enhancing the interpersonal cognitive process and problem-solving skills of children ages 4-12. ICPS is based on the idea that there are a set of skills that shape how children behave in interpersonal situations. These skills are influenced by whether they can predict the consequences of their own actions; how they view their conflicts with others; and whether they can think of solutions to these problems.

This is a two-day training; registration will begin at 8:30 AM and the training will begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 3:30 PM each day.  Act 48, NASW and PQAS continuing education credits will be available (pending approval). 

Date

September 27-28, 2016

Location

Center for Schools and Communities
275 Grandview Avenue, Commonwealth Room (First Floor)
Camp Hill, PA 17011

Registration Fee

The registration fee of $250 per person is available through September 16, 2016 and includes training, grade-level curriculum and lunch. A limited number of onsite registrations will be accepted at a fee of $300; payment to attend will be required by either check or credit card.

Click here for additional information and to register.

Questions

Sally Canazaro
Grant & Fiscal Management Coordinator
(717) 763-1661 ext. 168
scanazaro@csc.csiu.org

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania American Legion are seeking applicants for "State Police Youth Week," a leadership camp designed for teenagers interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or the military.

The week-long camp is staffed by members of the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and Pennsylvania American Legion. During the camp, cadets take part in team-building exercises, physical fitness training, classroom activities involving police and military careers, and a marksmanship course. Cadets will also visit the Pennsylvania State Police Academy in Hershey and Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center in Lebanon County.

The camp will be held at York College in York, Pennsylvania from June 12 through the 18. Males and females interested in applying for the camp must be between the ages of 15-17 prior to entering the camp and not reach the age of 18 before or during the camp. Students who have previously attended the camp as a cadet are not eligible to apply again.  Applicants are expected to have a good academic record and be in good health. For application information, visit the Pennsylvania American Legion website at www.pa-legion.com and click on the "Programs" link or call the Pennsylvania American Legion Headquarters at (717) 730-9100.

State Police Youth Week was established in 1970 with the goal of improving the relationship between Pennsylvania's youth and the law enforcement community. Last year, 70 cadets participated in the camp.

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Tpr. Adam Reed, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police Department

Saying the “F-word” during class used to mean an automatic out-of-school suspension for students in Woodland Hills. Not anymore.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, March 13, 2016
Full story

The drug kratom is being used by some people as an alternative to heroin and other illegal drugs even though it, too, can be addictive, The New York Times reports.

Kratom is increasingly popular and easily available, the article notes. Some people using kratom go back to using heroin, which is stronger and less expensive. Powdered forms of kratom, which come from a leaf found in Southeast Asia, are sold in head shops, gas station convenience stores and online.

The drug is categorized as a botanic dietary supplement. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cannot restrict the sale of kratom unless it is proved unsafe, or manufacturers claim it treats a medical condition. The FDA banned the import of kratom into the United States in 2014.

Kratom is not controlled under the Federal Controlled Substances Act. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has listed kratom as a “drug and chemical of concern,” and notes on its website that there is no legitimate medical use for kratom in the United States.

According to the DEA, at low doses, kratom produces stimulant effects with users reporting increased alertness, physical energy, and talkativeness. At high doses, users experience sedative effects.

Indiana, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming have banned kratom. The Army has forbidden its use by soldiers, according to the newspaper.

“It’s a fascinating drug, but we need to know a lot more about it,” said Dr. Edward W. Boyer, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, who has studied kratom. “Recreationally or to self-treat opioid dependence, beware — potentially you’re at just as much risk” as with an opiate, he said.

Kratom bars have opened in South Florida, as well as Colorado, New York and North Carolina. The bars sell brewed varieties of kratom, in plastic bottles that look like fruit juice.

The article below is a repost from the Center for Safe Schools website in honor of Don Smith.  Don was a good friend of PASAP and SAP in Pennsylvania.  He presented at our conference several times.  He will greatly missed.

December 8, 2015 – It is with great sadness that the Center for Safe Schools announces that emergency planning and response management coordinator, Donald W. Smith, Jr., passed away Friday following a five-year battle with cancer.

Don was a charismatic and compassionate professional who devoted his career and life to keeping communities and schools safe.

The professional relationship and personal friendship we had with Don have been a source of enrichment and enjoyment to all of us. Don was held in the highest regard by his Center colleagues and by many others with whom he worked in school safety, law enforcement and emergency response.

Center staff will remember Don for his energy, optimism, enthusiasm, good humor and tireless efforts. He will be dearly missed.

Obituary 

December 7, 2015

Dear SAP Colleague

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program (SAP) is administered by the PA Department of Education’s Safe Schools Office in partnership with the PA Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs’ Division of Prevention and Intervention, and the PA Department of Human Services’ Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.  SAP is designed to assist school personnel in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success.

Each year the PA Network for Student Assistance Services (PNSAS) updates their statewide contact lists.  We would appreciate your assistance in obtaining information from your building.  Please click on the link below under the attachments section to access the form listed.  Complete and email it to your PA Network for Student Assistance Services Regional Coordinator (view PNSAS map here for email address) by January 15, 2015.

A new resource now available is “SAP Frequently Asked Questions and Best Practice Responses”, located on the SAP website www.pnsas.org.  This document is helpful for teams to review and enhance their understanding of issues related to implementing the Student Assistance Program.  Also, monthly SAP County Coordination Updates can be found on the SAP website under the “About SAP” tab.

Please contact your PNSAS Regional Coordinator.  Thank you for your dedication to SAP and we hope the rest of your school year is successful.

Sincerely,

PA Network for Student Assistance Staff

Attachments
http://pnsas.org/Portals/1/Uploaded Files/Final Student Assistance Core Team Information 12-4-15.docx

Note: If document does not download by clicking the link, copy and paste the link text in browser bar .

PNSAS is pleased to announce the newly revised “Student Assistance Program Frequently Asked Questions and Best Practice Responses” for December 2015.  This resource addresses common issues that surface related to the Commonwealth’s Student Assistance Program.  Whether you are new to SAP or a veteran team member, this tool is a “must read” for all!  Areas highlighted are related to: training, policy, records, laws, and parent involvement, to name a few.  This is an excellent resource to utilize when questions surface and answers differ, as well as regularly review to ensure team practices are aligned with the Pennsylvania SAP model.  Go here - give it a read, talk to your team, and as needed connect with your SAP regional coordinator.