Partnerships at Work: Collaboration between Alternatives for Youth and

the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board

43rd Annual Addictions Ontario Conference

Sue Kennedy, Executive Director AY/Alternatives for Youth

David Hoy, Manager of Social Work Hamilton Wentworth District School Board

Monday May 30st, 2011

This presentation will share: The innovative work happening within Hamilton

within the context of secondary school students who are substance involved

How we are conducting systems planning and community development work

The model of collaboration between Alternatives for Youth and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board

History

For the past 20 years Addiction Counsellors from AY have been providing substance abuse counselling on-site at the HWDSB. Historically AY and HWDSB have had a longstanding ad-hoc partnership

AY decided to embrace the Best Practice of providing service to youth where youth are and expanded its service across 10 secondary schools across our region

Most recently HWDSB and AY formalized the partnership and author a Third Party Agreement

History continued… In 2008, the Student Support Leadership Initiative

was implemented with the aim of improving integrated services for students with mental

health and substance use concerns increasing local capacity to support students support system planning at the local level

HWDSB and AY were well positioned to be active participants in the initiative

Partnership Philosophy A partnership is a mutually beneficial,

reciprocal supportive arrangement between a school or school board and a community service provider

Partnerships are the relationships that add human or material resources through services/supports that ultimately lead to improved student learning

Philosophy Continued Through partnerships we seek to improve

school programs, school climate as well as providing services to our families and students

Ultimately, well functioning, healthy individuals are able to make contributions to the betterment of our community

Terms of PartnershipHWDSB

Refer students to the Alternatives for Youth counsellor who may benefit from drug counselling as per Alternatives for Youth referral protocol

Provide consultation to Alternatives for Youth counsellors and work collaboratively with Alternatives for Youth counsellors to support student needs

Terms of Partnership cont’dHWDSB

Coordinate training opportunities for Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board staff by Alternatives for Youth counsellors

Collaborate with AY executive staff for the purpose of partnership review , development and evaluation

Terms of PartnershipAY:

Provide an Alternatives for Youth counsellor who has expertise in the area of substance abuse assessment, treatment, referral and case management

Provide substance abuse education to students and their families in the context of the school culture

Terms of Partnerships cont’dAY: Provide substance abuse consultation

education and support to school Administrators Student services educators Social Workers Educational assistants

Liaise with other community professionals providing service in the school e.g. PHN

Terms of Partnership Cont’d

Provide individualized treatment intervention for those students who are referred as a result of suspension related to substance use

Substance abuse education may also be delivered within the classroom setting upon request and in conjunction with other health prevention professionals(PHN)

.

Outcomes: Students will be more informed and better

educated about their decision/choice concerning substance use and how such activity may adversely affect educational progress, personal functioning and relationships

Staff will have a better understanding of student substance abuse, recognize indicators of substance misuse and be able to access appropriate support for students through AY

Alternatives for Youth AY Opened its doors in 1969 Community treatment for children and youth

ages 12-23 who are substance involved Provide assessment, treatment planning,

evidence informed interventions, referral and follow-up in a harm reduction framework

Comprehensive psychiatric assessment, consultation, and treatment for youth with concurrent disorders

Risk Factors for Adolescent Substance Use Family History:

Parental drug use Quality of family relationships, organization

and communication Ineffective parenting or absence of Intimacy and

stability(disengagement/enmeshment)

Risk Factors Cont’d Early Anti-social Behaviour

the greater the variety, frequency and seriousness: the greater the likelihood of drug abuse

e.g. rebelliousness, temperament, social isolation, impulsivity, early learning related difficulties, early onset on drug use

Risk Factors cont’d Peers

Association with drug using peers during adolescence

Perceived use of drugs by other adolescents Peer influence-the great debate-do friends

negatively influence friends or do friends gravitate toward those who share their own values and beliefs

Risk Factors cont’d

Attitudes, Beliefs, Personality Traits Alienation Rebelliousness Risk-taking Non-conformity Resistance to traditional authority

Challenges with student population of drug users Acute ambivalence toward their own drug

use Influence of significant others in seeking

treatment Understanding use a problem in itself and in

context of situational issues Provocative, challenging and testing

behaviours

Substance Use Trends in Student Population

In the general student population the most frequent substances used continue to be alcohol ,cannabis and tobacco-local public health survey and support provincial averages

66%use alcohol 30%use cannabis 19% use tobacco

Student Use of Substances continued-The Rainbow Party Opioids Benzodiazepines Sedatives Solvents Cocaine Hallucinogens Anabolic Steroids

Club DrugsSedatives

GHB

Stimulants-amphetamine(speed)

Hallucinogenic stimulantsMDMA(ecstasy)

Dissociative anaesthetics(ketamine, PCP)

Substance Use Continuum AY counsellors support youth across the

substance use continuum :

Experimental use: Irregular use: Regular use Dependant use Harmful Use

Interventions that work

AY counsellors assess appropriately and tailor intervention accordingly-not a one size fits all.

Early intervention and education Harm Reduction Monitoring Assessment Treatment

Goals: Enhance motivation for change

Prevent further involvement in substance use

Reverse involvement in substance use

Reduce harm from substance use

Youth and Concurrent Disorders AY counsellors have received referrals for

students diagnosed with a mental health disorder who are substance involved:

Five most common are: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Conduct Disorder Depression and Bipolar Social Anxiety Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Concurrent Disorder Intervention Students who are referred to AY counsellor

can support a referral to the AY consulting child and adolescent psychiatrist who will: Provide a comprehensive psychiatric assessment Prescribe medications in consultation with GP Provide direct consultation with student, AY

counsellor to make treatment recommendations and implement integrated treatment plan

AY counsellors monitor and support youth

Benefits Timely access to necessary substance abuse

and mental health services, Services provided on-site at school ensuring

flexibility and customized treatment options Students can be empowered to direct their

own treatment plan(readiness) Parents and caregivers of students have

increased access to community supports

Challenges Forging relationships between agency counsellors

and school educators takes time and commitment Balancing harm reduction approach within the

parameters of safe-schools legislation Working with diverse staff and individual cultures

within each school Supporting a school climate that the supports the

de-stigmatization of mental health and substance abuse.

Questions and Answers?

Contact InformationSue KennedyExecutive Director, Alternatives for Youth skennedy@ay.on.ca

David Hoy, Manager of Social WorkHamilton Wentworth District School Boarddavid.hoy@hwdsb.on.ca