LGHS Recap 2009-2010 by Spencer Schoeben

2009-2010 CASSY Recap for Los Gatos High School At the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, LGHS partnered with CASSY to deliver a comprehensive mental health program which placed three therapists on-campus every school day. Proactive Mental Health Education Early in the school year, CASSY conducted psycho-educational presentations in classrooms – one to the Freshman Support Classes detailing coping skills and depression warning signs and another to the Leadership Class on depression and suicide prevention. Next fall, we will introduce a school-wide program on education and awareness of depression and suicide. On-Campus Counseling Between August 25, 2009 and June 10, 2010, CASSY provided 100 hours of individual, family and group counseling sessions oncampus during school hours each week. A few statistics: Student Assessments

403

Weekly Caseload

Parent Consultations

203

Therapeutic Sessions

2,128

PRESENTING ISSUE

$226,000

of a student. CASSY was able to partner with outside agencies KARA and EMQ to provide the needed support and interventions. Our therapists individually assessed 100 at-risk students, provided parent support and conducted an ongoing grief group for the remainder of the school year.

Grief and loss issues

28%

Depression

25%

Community Outreach

Communication with Parents

24%

Peer Relationships

19%

Parents When to Worry – a talk for parents about raising emotionally healthy adolescents.

Anxiety

17%

Academic Stress

16%

Divorce/Single Parent

13%

Staff Training School staff can freely consult with CASSY regarding disconcerting situations. We also provide staff training on mental health issues. This year we conducted the following four trainings in partnership with community agencies – Crisis Response with EMQ; Teen Dating Violence with Next Door Solutions; Gay and Lesbian issues with Outlet; and Eating Disorders with El Camino Hospital. Crisis Management

Market Value of Services Provided

CASSY

After meeting with over 20% of the student body this year, the top issues with which many students struggle are clear (students can have more than one issue). The top issues are as follows:

In March 2010, our school community experienced the death

555 Bryant Street #126, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Hopefulness and Help: Understanding Depression & Suicide – a presentation that included a national expert on teen suicide and depression and local resources. Parent Project – We assisted the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department with a 12 week parenting class for at-risk youth. School-based Organizations Attended meetings with CASA, Home and School Club, Parenting Continuum, New Millennium. Los Gatos Community Presented to Lions Club (morning and afternoon) and Rotary Club on CASSY services and served on a panel for substance abuse awareness and prevention.

650-521-5311

cassybayarea.org

2009-2010 Program Results To evaluate our program’s impact, CASSY uses the following quantitative and qualitative tools and metrics: Global Assessment of Functioning

GPA

Truancy rates

A therapeutic tool where each student is given a rating based on his or her overall level of functioning. Our goal is to increase the GAF number with counseling.

Although we do not specifically address academic issues, it is our goal that, through counseling, student will be better able to focus on academics.

It is our goal that, through counseling, students will be more engaged in school and less likely to be truant.

This year, 83% of our clients had an increase in their global functioning, while 14% remained the same.

55% of our clients had an increase

87% of our clients had either a

or a stabilization in their GPA this year.

decrease or a stabilization in their truancy rates.

Student Assessment

Parent Assessment

Staff Assessment

We simply asked students if they thought counseling was helpful and whether they would seek it again in the future.

At the end of the school year, we gave parents an opportunity to evaluate the impact CASSY services had on their child.

We invited staff to complete a yearend feedback form for students they refer to CASSY.

• 90% of the students surveyed found CASSY counseling to be very helpful; 10% reported counseling as somewhat helpful.

• 93% of parents found CASSY counseling to be very helpful; 7% found it somewhat helpful.

• 100% were confident in the CASSY staff to handle a crisis situation (88% strongly agreed).

• 100% would seek out CASSY services in the future if the need arises (86% strongly agreed).

• 100% reported CASSY staff responded in a reasonable time to referrals (88% strongly agreed).

• 100% would use CASSY services in the future if the need arises (52% strongly agreed). • 100% would recommend CASSY to others (73% strongly agreed). "CASSY was the best thing in the world for me. It is so convenient and the people are absolutely amazing." "It made life bearable." "It helped me become a stronger person inside. Getting bad thoughts out of my head made me much happier." "I don't think I would have survived high school without her." "I feel like if it wasn't there I would have gone crazy, or at least lost without their guidance."

• 100% would recommend CASSY to others (86% strongly agreed).

"I am very grateful my daughter had someone to talk with regularly about important issues." "I feel she may have saved our relationship."

• 100% of the staff found CASSY counseling to be very helpful. “The CASSY staff has helped me both as a teacher and a coach.” “An absolutely wonderful addition to our school. We could not succeed without CASSY.”

"My daughter's attitude towards seeking on campus counseling moved from ‘why bother’ to encouraging her friends to do the same rather than shut down or act out due to stressors." "It's great for a student to have an adult who is not a parent, teacher, or family member to share thoughts, issues, etc with." "By far the most valuable resource the school has to offer."