Project Grant H79SM088856

ON CAMPUS, ON TIME: SUPPORT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AT CHIEF LESCHI SCHOOLS - CHIEF LESCHI SCHOOLS CURRENTLY SERVES 349 ELEMENTARY AND 335 SECONDARY STUDENTS, 97% OF WHOM ARE NATIVE AMERICAN. WE USED ESSR FUNDS TO HIRE A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST TO WORK ON CAMPUS FULL TIME IN THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, AND THIS IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT WE ARE SEEKING FUNDING TO CONTINUE OFFERING OUR STUDENTS THIS SUPPORT. IN ADDITION, WE SEEK SALARY SUPPORT FOR OUR DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS WHO MAINTAINS CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND IS OFTEN THE FIRST ONE AWARE OF ANY ISSUES THEY MAY BE EXPERIENCING. BECAUSE OF HIS CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, HE SERVES TO CONNECT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WITH APPROPRIATE SUPPORT IN A TIMELY MANNER. WHILE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR PLAN WILL BE OVERSEEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES, FUNDING WILL BE USED FOR THE STAFF WITH DIRECT STUDENT CONTACT ONLY. DATA FROM THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL SHOWS STRONG NEED FOR STUDENT SUPPORTS: 12.6% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN FOSTER OR KINSHIP CARE 58.7% OF STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC OR ABSENTEEISM OF CONCERN 11% OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING AND NEED SUPPORT WITH GRIEF AND LOSS 21.4% OF STUDENTS WERE REFERRED TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES 22.1% OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN REFERRED FOR SUPPORT FOR BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS WITHIN THE CLASSROOM/SCHOOL 8% OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO OUTSIDE COUNSELING SERVICES 3% OF STUDENTS HAVE MADE SELF-HARM OR STATEMENTS OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AT THE SECONDARY SCHOOL, THE HEALTHY YOUTH SURVEY SHOWS THE NEEDS ARE EVEN GREATER: 40% OF OUR SENIORS IN 2014 HAD ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE SURVEY COMPARED TO 8% IN WASHINGTON STATE 62% OF ALL STUDENTS TAKING THE TEST INDICATED AN EARLY AGE OF FIRST DRUG USE 25% OF 12TH GRADERS HAD USED ILLICIT DRUGS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE SURVEY AND 54% HAD USED MARIJUANA 28% OF 8TH GRADERS, 50% OF 10TH GRADERS, AND 66% OF TOTAL STUDENTS SURVEYED REPORTED DEPRESSIVE FEELINGS 45% OF 8TH GRADERS, 70% OF 10TH GRADERS, AND 70% OF TOTAL STUDENTS REPORTED NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL OR STOP WORRYING CURRENTLY, THE LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST IS WORKING WITH 56 ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS, AND THE NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW. THE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS WORKS PRIMARILY WITH OUR SECONDARY STUDENTS. HE IS OFTEN THE FIRST PERSON TO KNOW WHEN A STUDENT NEEDS SOME SUPPORT AND MAKES MULTIPLE REFERRALS TO THE THERAPIST AND OTHER TRIBAL RESOURCES. TOGETHER, THEY PROVIDE A CRITICAL SAFETY NET FOR OUR STUDENTS.