Bend LaPine School District has wonderful partnerships in place with Bend Parks & Recreation and Family Access Network, and others I may not be aware of. However, when it comes to children with disabilities and mental/behavioral health challenges, the district has been resistant to community partnerships. At no cost to the district, partnerships with community service providers who support our most vulnerable students would fill gaps that the district is unable to provide due to lack of funding.
Here are some ideas of what the district can do:
Collaborate with community partners to problem-solve filling gaps in services. Just because you don’t have the money to do it, doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Reach out. Ask for help. We are all in this together - the community is begging to help.
Create a healing space in each school where community partners can share their skills with students and families.
Welcome vetted community counselors to work within the schools providing therapy and training for students and families.
Ask community partners already working with vulnerable children and families to follow up with students and families at the first signs of truancy.
Ask community partners already working with vulnerable children and families to follow up with students and families when there is known negative behavior and no known community support.
In conjunction with a School Resource Officer, allow a Resource Connector whose job is to reach out to children and families who have self-identified, or have been identified by a school staff member, as needing additional support; and who will connect them to meaningful resources, including following up to ensure a connection was made.
Allow BEAM reasonable access to schools and work together to problem solve transportation needs.
Allow The Hero Makers to provide Collaborative Problem Solving training to district employees and parents/guardians.
Mandate that all school employees complete the free one hour Trauma Informed Oregon training. Reach out to Trauma Informed Oregon about providing other training at no cost.
Welcome Family Support Specialists and other family advocates to support families in service plan meetings, with a collaborative spirit and student-focus. Currently, there are at least four agencies that I know of offering this type of support: CODSN, The Hero Makers, Treehouse Therapies and Diversability Inc. They exist to support children with disabilities and their families, ensuring children and families have a voice at the table.