Providing individualized support through student health and wellness team
Focused Area
Youth-At-Risk in Urban Settings
Relevance to Focused Area
Nuestros Valores Charter High School (NVCS) has been open since 2001, serves grades 9th-12th, and is located in the southwest part of Albuquerque, NM. The southwest part of Albuquerque is an urban setting with some rural parts. Most of the students who attend Nuestros Valores live in the urban part of southwest Albuquerque. This particular part of Albuquerque is known for it's combination of Spanish and Mexican culture. Most of the people who live in this area are bilingual. This is a wonderful and special place to live and work. However, there are challenges of overcoming the barriers of poverty, crime, and truancy. Nuestros Valores has an enrollment of 130 students all who have chosen to attend Nuestros Valores for the small size and individualized support with academics along with emotional. About 10% of the students population has been identified as homeless and about 20% are in Special Education. Also, about 5% have been or are currently on juvenile probation. Nuestros Valores has created partnerships with several organizations in the urban area to help provide resources to students and families. Many of our students face challenges everyday which sometimes prevent them from attending school. It is the mission of Nuestros Valores charter school to provide a quality and relevant education in a community that promotes caring and belonging for all students, especially those who seek a more personal and innovative educational setting. This mission is specifically for those students who live in the urban area and who face tough challenges everyday.
Primary Strand
Social & Emotional Skills
Relevance to Primary Strand
Students at Nuestros Valores are showing improvements in attendance and academics even though many are faced with the challenges of poverty, crime, and truancy. Two years ago Nuestros Valores implemented a Student Health and Wellness Team. This team consist of the following staff members; Executive Director, Assistant Principal, School Social Worker, School Counselor, Teacher. The goal for the health and wellness team is to provide individualized support for students and families. This support includes medical, academic, attendance, emotional, and social.
Brief Program Description
Nuestros Valores Charter School proposal will consist four parts describing the Student Health and Wellness Team implementation. 1. Why the Student Health and Wellness Team was started? 2. How the Student Health and Wellness Team was implemented? 3. What data shows that the Student Health and Wellness Team is working? 4. What are the next steps for the Student Health and Wellness Team?
Summary
Nuestros Valores Charter School proposal will consist four parts describing the Student Health and Wellness Team implementation. 1. Why the Student Health and Wellness Team was started? 2. How the Student Health and Wellness Team was implemented? 3. What data shows that the Student Health and Wellness Team is working? 4. What are the next steps for the Student Health and Wellness Team?
The Student Health and Wellness Team was started after the school moved to a new location and facility. The student population increased about 30% and the need for individualized support was necessary as evidenced by formal meetings with parents and students. These meetings were conducts by Nuestros Valores Charter School administration as well as advisory class.
After collecting information from students and parents/guardians during meetings, Nuestros Valores administration team discussed the results and decided on implementing a health and wellness program. The idea was then discussed with all staff. Everyone was on board and the program planning began. Administrative team worked over the summer to set goals, guidelines, and procedures for the program. The goals, guidelines, and procedures were shared with all staff at the beginning of the 2014-2105 school year.
Within the past two years 42 students have been referred to the Student Health and Wellness Team. All 42 students received individualized support. These students demonstrated improvements in daily attendance and academics as per class progress reports and short cycles assessments.
The next steps for the Student Health and Wellness Team will be to continue the consistency of weekly meetings and communication with all staff, parents, and students. Also, it is important to continue collecting relevant data on the program. The data will help the team make decisions on improving the program. It will continue to be a work in progress. Another, next step would be to continue reaching out to a variety of community organizations to help support the program with funding or any additional support.
Evidence
Within the past two years 42 students have been referred to the Student Health and Wellness Team. All 42 students received individualized support. These students demonstrated improvements in daily attendance and academics as per class progress reports and short cycles assessments.
Format
Poster Presentation
Biographical Sketch
Monica Aguilar was born and raised in Albuquerque. She is married and has two children, Santiago 16 years old and Emily 11 years old. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM and attended Valley high school, received her Bachelors degree from the University of New Mexico in Secondary Education with a minor in mathematics. She then went on to receive her Master’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Educational Leadership. She has been at Nuestros Valores Charter School since 2004. She was a teacher for 4 years with Albuquerque Public School District and then had the opportunity to move over to Nuestros Valores Charter School. she has enjoyed working with the students, staff, and community at Nuestros Valores and She is vey proud of the success that has been accomplished.
Start Date
10-23-2016 10:00 AM
End Date
10-23-2016 11:00 AM
Recommended Citation
Aguilar, Monica and Frietze, Bernadette, "Providing individualized support through student health and wellness team" (2016). National Youth-At-Risk Conference, West (2015-2017). 1.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_vegas/2016/poster/1
Providing individualized support through student health and wellness team
Nuestros Valores Charter School proposal will consist four parts describing the Student Health and Wellness Team implementation. 1. Why the Student Health and Wellness Team was started? 2. How the Student Health and Wellness Team was implemented? 3. What data shows that the Student Health and Wellness Team is working? 4. What are the next steps for the Student Health and Wellness Team?
