CAPE SCHOOL DISTRICT EARNS GRANT FOR CARING COMMUNITY PROJECT

Educators looking for ways to help their students deal with problems in and out of the classroom now have a new avenue of information.

Cape Girardeau public schools is one of five in the state to receive a grant to develop a caring communities project. The school district will be working closely with Cape Girardeau's Community Caring Council.

Jo Boyer was hired in January through the $40,000 grant to coordinate the Caring Communities project for the school district.

Betty Chong, director of special services, explained that as government money becomes tighter, agencies are looking for ways to eliminate duplication of efforts, pool resources and better serve clients.

The grant charges the school district to develop a continuum of school-based services for at-risk youth and their families through collaboration of local education, health, mental health and social service agencies.

"Cape was chosen because of the Community Caring Council in place here and the community prototype. It's a collaborative effort," Boyer said.

Boyer said most of this year will be spent identifying needs and providing information to teachers and staff.

"We hope to have children come to school ready to learn," Chong said. "In order for that to happen, those other needs have to be taken care of."

Boyer added, "There are so many family stresses because of so many changes in economics, employment, and in families themselves. That just has to affect the children."

Chong added, "This falls right in line with our concerns about students at-risk of dropping out of school."

Boyer said, "Every time a student drops out, for whatever reason, that affects the whole community.

"I think the district is already doing lots of things in cooperation with community social services," Boyer said. "But because children and families have so many problems, you almost have to treat the whole child."

Teachers have not had an easily accessible clearinghouse of information on what services are available, Boyer said.

"I envision a quick-response type of situation where the teacher will learn of a problem and talk with the counselor. The counselor will then contact Jo who will come back with information about services that the parents might utilize," Chong said.

Beyond that, the program destined to collaborative effort between school and community.

"Cottonwood is an example of collaboration," Chong said. "We provide the educational component. Cottonwood addresses the mental health needs of children and adolescents."

Using information generated by a district committee studying students at-risk of dropping out of school, Boyer is now updating that information and looking for other ideas.

As part of the assessment process, Chong said, teachers were asked to respond to the statement: "I could help this child if only I had..."

"We got a long list of ideas," Boyer said.

Teachers said they could be more effective if only the child was able to see a physician when the child is sick; if the family had transportation; if counseling were available when a child was upset; and if a child was properly clothed and fed.

Chong said the district doesn't plan to take over parental responsibilities for getting services to children. Instead, the school hopes to help parents in their search for help.

"We are trying to help the parent find the resources that are available," Boyer said. "One teacher said she had a child who needed glasses. The family wasn't sure how to go about getting glasses. A child can't read if he can't see. That's the kind of problem we can help with."

Chong said, "We won't be paying for transportation or buying glasses. Hopefully we can help connect them with the agencies or people who can help them."