May 2000

OSBA’s May Salute goes to the Umatilla-Morrow Education Service District for paying close attention to the nation’s number-one education priority: a safe environment. The ESD’s Risk Assessment Screening Program identifies emotionally disturbed children for intervention in a timely manner.

BACKGROUND: With the public spotlight on schools and violence in recent years, it’s good news when schools increase efforts to immediately identify students who pose a threat to themselves or others.

The program, designed by ESD staff with local county mental health experts, began two years ago in Morrow County and was expanded to Umatilla this year. As awareness of the program grows among the 11 school districts served, requests for screenings have increased, according to Cynthia Shepard, director of Developmental Services.

The ESD’s nine school psychologists/child development specialists have been trained in risk assessment and are assigned to school districts. "It gives you a proactive way to deal with a potential problem before something happens, instead of afterwards," said Shepard.

HOW IT WORKS: When a student is suspected of being dangerous to self or others, the school safety team contacts the ESD to request an immediate evaluation. Safety teams in each school include the principal or vice principal, school counselor, teachers, the ESD school psychologist/child development specialist, and outside agency representative. The team decides the appropriate action to take immediately - whether the child needs treatment or further evaluation and monitoring. Parent involvement begins with granting permission for an ESD child psychologist to administer the screening, a one-on-one interview with the student lasting about two hours.

"This interview process can identify the seriously troubled kids from the students who are acting out to get a little attention," Shepard said, noting the ESD conducted about 10 screenings this year of seriously troubled students. "We’re thankful we’ve only had to do a few number." The recommendation from these screenings is a key factor in the deciding when, or whether, a student may return to school, she added.

The ESD psychologist uses early warning signs identified by the U.S. Dept. of Education. Assessment results are reviewed by the safety team, which will decide what action to take, e.g. whether the student needs immediate intervention from the county mental health office, referral to police, or just further monitoring from school staff.

"If we believe a student is dangerous, that student doesn’t come back to school until an evaluation is done," said Jann Tresham, assistant principal at Hermiston High School. "The incidences at other schools have increased our awareness, so we take every threat seriously now," she says.

Students may receive a variety of services available which include referral to mental health counseling, referral to Child Development Clinics provided by the ESD (a new service that evolved at the same time of the Risk Assessment Screening Program), referral to special education services, if appropriate, behavioral interventions. All these services are the districts' response to the necessity for safe schools in Oregon.

A few warning signs to determine if a child may need a risk assessment may be:

• Social withdrawal
• Excessive feelings of isolation and being alone
• Level of depression, hopelessness, helplessness

For more insight and details into predictors and early warning signs of violence visit OSBA's Crisis Management Resources where you'll find links to a variety of violence prevention and school safety resources.

OSBA has also developed a Crisis Management Plan for administrators and building staff to use from the moment a crisis hits.