For additional news and resources, visit the PSESD Prevention Center page. 
Discover Tools for Responding to Crises in Schools Crisis Recovery Conference Offers Training in Response to a Grief-Related Incident During times of crisis and loss, schools respond with varying levels of preparation. Some districts have a trained team of school counselors who come in for the day to help the school cope with a traumatic incident. Other districts do not have the resources to develop a coordinated response and may rely in part on support from community resources. On February 9th, PSESD is offering a one-day Crisis Recovery Conference to all schools in the Puget Sound region. Whether you need to learn about the essentials of crisis recovery or want more specific strategies to support students and staff struggling with grief and loss, this conference will offer a range of information and skill building opportunities to meet your training needs. Hear from seasoned responders who have successfully led school communities in recovering from a wide range of tragedies. Visit www.psesd.org/classes (keyword search: crisis recovery) to register. If you would like additional information, contact Jennifer MacKillop at 425-917-7820, 253-778-7849 or jmackillop@psesd.org.
Tobacco Use and Academic Performance Research shows that smoking is strongly correlated with academic performance. Youth who are tobacco-free are more likely to earn better grades. The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey is conducted in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 every two years. From a state sample of 15,600 8th and 10th grades students in October of 2008, the survey found that among 8th grade students who smoked, 57% received grades of mostly C's, D's and F's, and 46% reported skipping school. Among 10th grade students who smoked, 59% received grades of mostly C's, D's or F's, and 50% reported skipping school. Why is this you ask? Smoking decreases attentiveness and increases absenteeism making it more difficult for smoking youth to be successful in school. PSESD's Prevention Center supports school districts to integrate tobacco prevention planning into their overall comprehensive prevention planning process. Learn more at www.psesd.org or contact Jennifer MacKillop at 425-917-7820, 253-778-7820 or jmackillop@psesd.org.
The Prevention Center Educational Advocate (EA) program currently has case managers working with youth as they return from JRA institutions and the Remann Hall detention center to community education programs. Using strength-based assessments, the Advocates assist the youth and their families to develop and implement Academic and Community Success Plans. The plans prepare youth to earn a living wage and become contributing members to society. The Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration in King County has invited us to join them in using the PathNet model to expand our services and hire a fourth EA to focus on detention youth residing in South King County. Additionally, the Prevention Center is launching two middle school drop-out prevention programs and is taking the lead on developing a system to supporting the educational needs of youth in adult prison systems. All of these add up to new resources, skills and competencies helping the PSESD to close the achievement gap. For more information, please contact Jill Patnode, MSW at 425-917-7839, 253-778-7839 or jpatnode@psesd.org
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The Prevention Center's Student Assistance Prevention Intervention Program is now in it's 21st year in our state. It's strong outcomes have helped students experience greater academic success by supporting them to be tobacco, alcohol and drug-free. The program is now recognized as a key strategy for drop-out prevention. As a result, the Prevention Center has recently been awarded several grants related to drop-out prevention and dropout retrieval.