The “S” in S.T.E.M. Doesn’t Stand for Scary
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The West Virginia Family Engagement Center is grateful to work with an incredible network of schools and partners to support SEAMless family engagement across the state. Our August Spotlight, highlighted in our monthly newsletter, features Lincoln County Schools and the ReclaimWV Initiative.
Lincoln County Schools vision is to prepare today’s learner to be tomorrow’s leader by having healthy, responsible, self-directed, and actively involved stakeholders come together to take students from where they are to a place of excellence. With a mission of collaboration between all stakeholders, Lincoln County Schools approach to family engagement has built SEAMless strategies between schools and families.
"Our partnership with The EdVenture Group has helped increase our Family Engagement Program tremendously. The funding and support has helped provide incentives for families to participate in many fun and engaging activities. Family engagement in our schools is vital for student success."
- Jeff Midkiff, Superintendent of Lincoln County Schools.
During the 19-20 school year, Lincoln County Schools:
Hired their first Community Contact at Lincoln County High School, who coordinated structured family engagement activities,
Held the Meet-N-Treat activity at Lincoln County High School to showcase their CTE programs and increase family involvement, resulting in over 600 attendees,
Hosted a Family Reading Night at Ranger Elementary, with over 100 attendees and giveaways to families,
Held Grand Reading Nights (for grandparents) and Donuts with Dad and Muffins with Mom events at Midway and Duval, with over 100 attendees at each event,
Delivered a Family Math Night at Guyan Valley Middle School,
Sponsored a Family Night at West Hamlin Elementary, and
Facilitated several family events, such as a talent show and reading night, at Harts Pk8
Lincoln County Schools were active participants in WVFEC’s Strong Families Webinar Series, with many families reporting implementation of strategies taking place after webinar completion. Support to families in the form of a $100 Walmart Gift Card was put to great use, with a grandmother sharing she purchased her granddaughter a bicycle, a mother buying a double swing for her backyard, and another family purchasing a tent to go on a family camping trip.
Many good things have come from our adventure with EdVenture!
- Sue Burton, Lincoln County Family/Community Engagement Facilitator
The ReclaimWV Initiative is a WVDE-led program designed to advance the wellness and resilience of West Virginia students so they may become lifelong learners, productive citizens, and successful individuals. In response to the opioid epidemic, ReclaimWV supports and collaborates with local education agencies, schools, communities, and families to address the physical, social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs of WV students. The initiative has collaborated with a variety of partners to identify best practices, information, and resources in a centralized website accessible to schools, educators, students, and families. The initiative supports professional learning opportunities, technical assistance, and implements programs to support educators and families across the state with a focus on promoting a trauma-informed education approach to education and support.
ReclaimWV has led many impactful programs to support WV schools, families, and communities, including:
Creation of the WVDE Mental Health Crisis Response Team to provide training using the PREPaRE Model,
Training on Expanded School Mental Health (ESMH), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), Motivational Interviewing, Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Trauma, and Prevention Support
Hosted the WV Game Changer – Opioid Awareness Summits for WV middle and high school students
Funding for the WV Behavior and Mental Health Technical Assistance Center (BMHTAC) which provides free professional learning opportunities to educators across the state – including a YouTube channel with video-based resources.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) continues to support and collaborate with local education agencies, communities, and families to address the social-emotional, physical, behavioral, and mental health needs of our students especially those already struggling due to the opioid epidemic. It is critical that we connect our students to one caring adult and ensure that resources are available to support our teachers and staff.”
- W. Clayton Burch, State Superintendent of Schools
To learn more about the ReclaimWV Initiative’s mission, vision, goals, and objectives, check out their Strategic Plan here.
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