A Call to Action

Circuit 5 Dependency Court Improvement Project Quarterly MeetingFriday, January 21, 2011 Wildwood, Florida

Darlene Bell-Alexander, Esq.Senior Attorney• Circuit 5 Education Attorney• Marion County CLS Independent Living SpecialistChildren’s Legal Services, Marion County OfficeFlorida Department of Children and Families

• WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A TEACHER?

• The message is that everybody has a role in improving the educational opportunities for children in foster care.

• I am that teacher that can:

• Expect a Child to: Expect a Parent to:

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• Lead a Child to: Lead a Parent to:

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• Motivate a Child to: Motivate a Parent to:

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• Coach a Child to: Coach a Parent to:

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• Teach a student to: Teach a Parent to:

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• ______________________________ _____________________________

• Additional comments:

• • Name: (optional) _____________________________________• Title: (optional) ______________________________________• Please _____share _____ do not share using my name and title

Why are we here?The Children

“Everybody’s A Teacher” is about creating expectations while promoting safety and excellence

in education for our children

Why are we here?

The Children71 % of the children in foster care are between the ages of 6 and 18 (school age)

It is estimated that when a student in foster care changes schools, an average of four to six monthsof educational progress is lost.

Children in foster care in one Florida School System were more likely than same age peers to be retained in grade and score lower on standardized tests.

The Children

100 % of the children

have hopes and dreams

before coming into the

dependency system.

5

There are laws and rules, but

Together,

we can find ways to do more than plan,

we can find ways to help each other

implement, to go from “good to great”

The GOALS

The Statewide “InterAgency Agreement”

Seeks to coordinate services for children and incorporates

A Guide to Improve Education Opportunities for Florida’s Foster

Youth

The Guide contains 11 Goals

(and many suggested actions)

Goal 1

School Stability:

Students should remain in their same school, unless it is unsafe

Goal 2

Seamless Transition Between Schools. Regardless of school district.

– No Delay in enrollment– No Delay in records transfer– No repeating or missing valuable

educational material– No Loss of credits– Minimize trauma so not overwhelmed

with the move and disruption

Goal 3

School Readiness:

Young children enter school ready to learn.

Goal 4

Full Participation in the School Experience: Youth have the opportunity and support to fully participate in all aspects of the school experience.

Goal 5

Youth have supports to prevent

• school dropout,

• truancy, and

• disciplinary actions.

Goal 6Youth are involved in all aspects

of their education and educational

planning and are empowered to be

advocates for their education needs.

Goal 7

Youth have an adult who is invested in his or her education during and after time in Foster Care,

including a Surrogate Parent where appropriate.

Goal 8

Youth have supports to enter into, and complete, postsecondary education or obtaining employment.

Goal 9

Youth with Disabilities are:

Identified Early &

Served Appropriately

Goal 10

Youth are educated

in a trauma-sensitive environment, recognizing the root cause

of inappropriate behaviors and

providing appropriate behavioral supports

that create a safe environment,

conducive to learning,

rather than punishing youth for acting in response to their anger and hurt.

Goal 11

All Youth

Attend

and

Complete School

New Goal 12

EVERYBODY’S A TEACHER

• Everybody plays a role in a child’s education• Stay engaged. • Stay proactive. • And remind yourself every time you look in the

mirror…

EVERYBODY’S A TEACHER

A Call to Action

What is our next step in Circuit 5?

1. Create a planning group to plan and prepare for a circuit-wide Education Summit

Circuit, schools, courts, guardians, providers, local and state government, youth

2. Have an Education Summit that will identify local and state education issues and solutions

3. Work towards the Education Goals which will have a meaningful impact on the children and families that we serve

Together

• Partnerships empower students in foster care to improve performance and prepare for post-secondary education, the world of work and independence.

• Everyone benefits from the child’s success

Every child needs teachers

Darlene Bell-Alexander, Esq.Senior Attorney

Circuit 5 Education AttorneyMarion County Independent Living Specialist

Children’s Legal Services, Marion County OfficeFlorida Department of Children and Families

(352) 620-3550 Office(352) 620-3559 Direct Line

(352) 490-1558 Cellular

Darlene_Bell-Alexander@dcf.state.fl.us