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Multisystemic Therapy through The Village

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When youth are struggling with problem behaviors, it is important to recognize that their struggles are multidimensional and can
stem from a variety of influences.

Through The Village’s Multisystemic Therapy (MST) program, we recognize the relationship between these influences and work to help youth ages 12-18 make the changes they need to live healthy, productive lives.

MST is a scientifically proven intervention to at-risk youth that promotes behavioral shifts in their environments, focusing on the strengths of the individual, family and extra-familial systems to promote positive change.

The program uses a strengths-based systemic approach to reduce delinquency, substance use and improve family functioning and educational/vocational performance. Services include:

• Intensive in-home clinical services
• Assessment
• Case management
• Crisis intervention (including 24/7 on-call support)
• Treatment and discharge planning

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Start With Hello – Sandy Hook Promise

Dear Bulkeley High School parents,

In every school and community, there are young people who suffer silently because they feel left out, alone, or invisible. Social isolation is a growing epidemic in our schools and across the United States.  Young people who are isolated can become victims of bullying, violence, and/or depression. Many then pull further away from society, struggle with learning and social development, and/or choose to hurt themselves or others as a result.

This is why we are bringing Sandy Hook Promise’s Start with Hello program to Bulkeley High School virtually on Thursday, 1/14/21 for 9th and 10th grade and on Tuesday, 1/19/21 for 11th and 12th grade.

Start with Hello is an age-appropriate training that raises awareness and educates students about social isolation and how to create a connected and inclusive classroom, school, and community.

At least one counselor and administrator will be in attendance during the Start with Hello presentations and staying afterward for any student who needs to talk. Following the presentation, Ms. Vargas-Castillo and the SAVE Promise Club (Latinos in Action students) will continue to spread the Start with Hello message by supporting youth-led activities and events.

We encourage your child to attend the Start with Hello presentation during seminar and to talk with them about the importance of being “upstanders” and looking out for one another. 

Please reach out to the school if you have questions. For more information about Sandy Hook Promise, please visit:  www.sandyhookpromise.org.

Sincerely,

The Bulkeley High School Social Work Team

Download the Flyer
Download the Letter
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Signs of Suicide Curriculum

Download the Parent Letter (English y Español)
Download the Student Letter (English y Español(

Our school is participating in SOS Signs of Suicide which teaches warning signs for suicide and how to ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell) to get help if you are worried about yourself or a friend.

In class, we will watch SOS video clips and discuss them together. Following the videos, all students will complete a response slip asking if they would like to speak to an adult. After class, we will check in with any student who wants to talk. We will also be contacting some students for feedback about the program.  

Additional Resources

ACT Parent Handout (English)

ACT Parent Handout (Español)

ACT Infographic (English)

ACT Infographic (Español)

Parent Workshop: Helping Your Child Save a Life

CT Dept. of Mental Health

Dear Parent / Guardian,  

During this challenging year, school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. 

SOS has been used by thousands of schools over the past few decades. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.  

Through the program, students learn: 

    • that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help  
    • how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend 
    • to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend 
    • who they can turn to at school for help, if they need it  

Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. Following the video, students will complete a response slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk. 

We encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. 

We are including:  

    • An infographic for you to reinforce the ACT message at home 
    • An info sheet with resources  
    • A list of local resources are linked to Bulkeley High School’s website

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program please contact any of our School Counselors or School social workers.

Sincerely, 
Digna Marte, Bulkeley High School Principal 

Estimados padres / Tutor, 

Durante este año de desafío, el personal de la escuela trabaja para enseñar a los estudiantes acerca de la salud mental y cómo buscar ayuda si están preocupados por ellos mismos o algún amigo.  Estamos utilizando un programa llamado (SOS Signs of Suicide) Señales de Suicidio. El programa enseña a los estudiantes acerca de este difícil tema y los estimula a solicitar ayuda.

SOS ha sido utilizado por miles de escuelas durante las últimas décadas. Estudios han demostrado que enseña a los estudiantes eficazmente acerca de la depresión y el suicidio mientras que reduce el número de intentos de suicidio reportados por los mismos estudiantes.

A través del programa, los estudiantes aprenden: 

    • La depresión puede ser tratada y por lo tanto se les estimula a buscar ayuda. 
    • Cómo identificar la depresión y el riesgo potencial de suicidio de ellos mismos o algún amigo. 
    • (ACT: Acknowledge, Care and Tell) ACTUAR: Reconocer, Cuidado e Informar a un adulto de confianza si está preocupado por sí mismo o algún amigo. 
    • A que personas pueden acudir en la escuela para obtener ayuda, si la necesitan.

Los estudiantes observarán videoclips apropiados para su edad y participarán en un dialogo acerca de la depresión, el suicidio y además qué hacer si están preocupados por algún amigo. Después del video, los estudiantes completarán una hoja de respuestas en la que se les pregunta si les gustaría hablar con un adulto acerca de cualquier preocupación. El personal de la escuela llevará a cabo reuniones breves con cualquier estudiante que solicite hablar.

Les recomendamos que visiten www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent para obtener información acerca de las señales de advertencia del suicidio de jóvenes, recursos útiles y algunos mensajes claves que los estudiantes aprenderán.

Incluimos: una infografía para que usted fortalezca el mensaje de ACT en el hogar, hoja de papel con información de recursos y lista de programas locales en el sitio de Bulkeley.

Si tiene alguna pregunta o inquietud acerca de la participación de sus hijos en este programa, comuníquese conmigo al (incluya número de teléfono, correo electrónico y mejor horario para hacer contacto) o con uno de nuestros consejeros escolares.

Sinceramente,

Sra. Marte, Principal de Bulkeley

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Safe Dates

Safe Dates Newsletter (English)
Boletín de Fechas Seguras (Español)

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Your child will soon be involved in an exciting program called Safe Dates. This effective, research-based program targets the attitudes and behaviors associated with dating abuse and violence.

As indicated in the enclosed newsletter, dating abuse can be a significant problem for teens as young as middle school. Safe Dates helps teens more clearly define what a healthy dating relationship is and what dating abuse is. It helps teens understand the causes and consequences of dating abuse, as well as the key ways to prevent dating abuse from happening.

We understand that some parents and caregivers don’t want their teens dating until they’re older. Safe Dates doesn’t push or promote dating, but it will prepare your child for the future when he or she may be dating.

Safe Dates also does not discuss any sexually explicit content. We’ll be talking about sexual assault (date rape), but in more general terms.

The goal of this program is to help teens be safe as they develop healthy relationships with friends.

Please feel free to read through the attached newsletter. As the caregiver of your teen, you play the most important role in keeping your teen safe in dating relationships. The newsletter provides some helpful tips in doing this.

If you should have any questions about the Safe Dates program or dating abuse in general, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Bulkeley High School Social Work Department

Download the letter (in English y Español)

Estimado padre/tutor:

Muy pronto su hijo(a) estará participando en un programa emocionante  llamado Safe Dates/Relaciones Seguras. Este programa eficaz, basado en la investigación, se enfoca en las actitudes y comportamientos asociados con abuso y violencia cuando los jóvenes tienen novios(as).

Como se indica en la publicación adjunta, el abuso en una relación de novios puede ser un problema importante para los adolescentes incluso en la escuela secundaria. Safe Dates/Relaciones Seguras ayuda a los adolescentes a definir más claramente qué es una relación de novios más sana y qué es abuso. Ayuda a los adolescentes a entender las causas y las consecuencias del abuso, así como también la clave para prevenir que ocurra un abuso.

Nosotros entendemos que algunos padres no quieren que sus hijos(as) salgan de novios hasta que sean un poco mayores. Safe Dates/Relaciones Seguras no obliga o promueve salir de novios, pero prepara a su hijo(a) cuando en el futuro él o ella lo haga.

Safe Dates/Relaciones Seguras tampoco comenta sobre temas sexuales explícitos. Hablaremos sobre ataques sexuales (violación) pero en forma general.

El objetivo de este programa es ayudar a los adolescentes a que se sientan seguros a medida que desarrollan relaciones sanas con sus amigos.

Por favor, lea la publicación adjunta. Como padre o madre de un adolescente, usted juega un rol muy importante para mantener seguras las relaciones románticas de su hijo(a). Esta publicación le brinda algunos consejos prácticos para hacerlo.

Si tuviera preguntas sobre el programa Safe Dates/Relaciones Seguras o abuso en general, por favor llámenos.

Atentamente,

Trabajadores Sociales de Bulkeley