Partnerships at Work: Collaboration between Alternatives for Youth and
the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board
43rd Annual Addictions Ontario Conference
Sue Kennedy, Executive Director AY/Alternatives for Youth
David Hoy, Manager of Social Work Hamilton Wentworth District School Board
Monday May 30st, 2011
This presentation will share: The innovative work happening within Hamilton
within the context of secondary school students who are substance involved
How we are conducting systems planning and community development work
The model of collaboration between Alternatives for Youth and the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board
History
For the past 20 years Addiction Counsellors from AY have been providing substance abuse counselling on-site at the HWDSB. Historically AY and HWDSB have had a longstanding ad-hoc partnership
AY decided to embrace the Best Practice of providing service to youth where youth are and expanded its service across 10 secondary schools across our region
Most recently HWDSB and AY formalized the partnership and author a Third Party Agreement
History continued… In 2008, the Student Support Leadership Initiative
was implemented with the aim of improving integrated services for students with mental
health and substance use concerns increasing local capacity to support students support system planning at the local level
HWDSB and AY were well positioned to be active participants in the initiative
Partnership Philosophy A partnership is a mutually beneficial,
reciprocal supportive arrangement between a school or school board and a community service provider
Partnerships are the relationships that add human or material resources through services/supports that ultimately lead to improved student learning
Philosophy Continued Through partnerships we seek to improve
school programs, school climate as well as providing services to our families and students
Ultimately, well functioning, healthy individuals are able to make contributions to the betterment of our community
Terms of PartnershipHWDSB
Refer students to the Alternatives for Youth counsellor who may benefit from drug counselling as per Alternatives for Youth referral protocol
Provide consultation to Alternatives for Youth counsellors and work collaboratively with Alternatives for Youth counsellors to support student needs
Terms of Partnership cont’dHWDSB
Coordinate training opportunities for Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board staff by Alternatives for Youth counsellors
Collaborate with AY executive staff for the purpose of partnership review , development and evaluation
Terms of PartnershipAY:
Provide an Alternatives for Youth counsellor who has expertise in the area of substance abuse assessment, treatment, referral and case management
Provide substance abuse education to students and their families in the context of the school culture
Terms of Partnerships cont’dAY: Provide substance abuse consultation
education and support to school Administrators Student services educators Social Workers Educational assistants
Liaise with other community professionals providing service in the school e.g. PHN
Terms of Partnership Cont’d
Provide individualized treatment intervention for those students who are referred as a result of suspension related to substance use
Substance abuse education may also be delivered within the classroom setting upon request and in conjunction with other health prevention professionals(PHN)
.
Outcomes: Students will be more informed and better
educated about their decision/choice concerning substance use and how such activity may adversely affect educational progress, personal functioning and relationships
Staff will have a better understanding of student substance abuse, recognize indicators of substance misuse and be able to access appropriate support for students through AY
Alternatives for Youth AY Opened its doors in 1969 Community treatment for children and youth
ages 12-23 who are substance involved Provide assessment, treatment planning,
evidence informed interventions, referral and follow-up in a harm reduction framework
Comprehensive psychiatric assessment, consultation, and treatment for youth with concurrent disorders
Risk Factors for Adolescent Substance Use Family History:
Parental drug use Quality of family relationships, organization
and communication Ineffective parenting or absence of Intimacy and
stability(disengagement/enmeshment)
Risk Factors Cont’d Early Anti-social Behaviour
the greater the variety, frequency and seriousness: the greater the likelihood of drug abuse
e.g. rebelliousness, temperament, social isolation, impulsivity, early learning related difficulties, early onset on drug use
Risk Factors cont’d Peers
Association with drug using peers during adolescence
Perceived use of drugs by other adolescents Peer influence-the great debate-do friends
negatively influence friends or do friends gravitate toward those who share their own values and beliefs
Risk Factors cont’d
Attitudes, Beliefs, Personality Traits Alienation Rebelliousness Risk-taking Non-conformity Resistance to traditional authority
Challenges with student population of drug users Acute ambivalence toward their own drug
use Influence of significant others in seeking
treatment Understanding use a problem in itself and in
context of situational issues Provocative, challenging and testing
behaviours
Substance Use Trends in Student Population
In the general student population the most frequent substances used continue to be alcohol ,cannabis and tobacco-local public health survey and support provincial averages
66%use alcohol 30%use cannabis 19% use tobacco
Student Use of Substances continued-The Rainbow Party Opioids Benzodiazepines Sedatives Solvents Cocaine Hallucinogens Anabolic Steroids
Club DrugsSedatives
GHB
Stimulants-amphetamine(speed)
Hallucinogenic stimulantsMDMA(ecstasy)
Dissociative anaesthetics(ketamine, PCP)
Substance Use Continuum AY counsellors support youth across the
substance use continuum :
Experimental use: Irregular use: Regular use Dependant use Harmful Use
Interventions that work
AY counsellors assess appropriately and tailor intervention accordingly-not a one size fits all.
Early intervention and education Harm Reduction Monitoring Assessment Treatment
Goals: Enhance motivation for change
Prevent further involvement in substance use
Reverse involvement in substance use
Reduce harm from substance use
Youth and Concurrent Disorders AY counsellors have received referrals for
students diagnosed with a mental health disorder who are substance involved:
Five most common are: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Conduct Disorder Depression and Bipolar Social Anxiety Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Concurrent Disorder Intervention Students who are referred to AY counsellor
can support a referral to the AY consulting child and adolescent psychiatrist who will: Provide a comprehensive psychiatric assessment Prescribe medications in consultation with GP Provide direct consultation with student, AY
counsellor to make treatment recommendations and implement integrated treatment plan
AY counsellors monitor and support youth
Benefits Timely access to necessary substance abuse
and mental health services, Services provided on-site at school ensuring
flexibility and customized treatment options Students can be empowered to direct their
own treatment plan(readiness) Parents and caregivers of students have
increased access to community supports
Challenges Forging relationships between agency counsellors
and school educators takes time and commitment Balancing harm reduction approach within the
parameters of safe-schools legislation Working with diverse staff and individual cultures
within each school Supporting a school climate that the supports the
de-stigmatization of mental health and substance abuse.
Questions and Answers?
Contact InformationSue KennedyExecutive Director, Alternatives for Youth [email protected]
David Hoy, Manager of Social WorkHamilton Wentworth District School [email protected]