Early intervention and systemic referral services

EARLY INTERVENTION AND SYSTEMIC REFERRAL SERVICES

Unfortunately, the number of suicides and violence incidents among our K-12 students have been significantly increasing. It is very crucial to develop early intervention and systemic referral services to provide a nurturing learning environment for all students.  It is also essential that we have an accurate and complete profile of every student to create an appropriate intervention and referral services action plan. In this article, we provide school counselors, teachers, administrators and parents with a comprehensive data collection framework and strategies to identify students who need extra social and emotional support.

CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE

1. Failure in one or more subject areas
2. Drop in grades, lower achievement
3. Needs directions given individually
4. Does not ask for help when needed
5. Prefers to work alone
6. Does not complete homework
7. Does not complete in-class assignments
8. Homework is disorganized or incomplete
9. Short attention span, easily distracted
10. Poor short-term memory, e.g., can’tremember one day to the next
11. Finds it hard to study
12. Gives up easily
13. Lacks desire to do well in school
14. Has demonstrated ability, but does not apply self

SOCIAL SKILLS

1. Tends to stay to self, withdrawn
2. Lack of peer relationships
3. Appears lonely
4. Slow in making friends
5. Disturbs other students
6. Negative leader
7. Unyielding or stubborn on positions
8. Argues with teacher
9. Hits and/or pushes other students
10. Threatens other students
11. Teases other students
12. Angered by constructive criticism
13. Demonstrates lack of self-confidence
14. Disrespects or defies authority
15. Regularly seeks to be center of attention
16. Frequent ridicule from classmates
17. Appears unhappy/sad
18. Lacks control in unstructured situations
19. Change in friends
20. Sexual behavior in public
21. Difficulty in relating to others
22. Talks freely about drugs/alcohol
23. Other social behavior of concern

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

1. Defiance, violation of rules
2. Blaming, denying, not accepting responsibility
3. Fighting
4. Cheating
5. Sudden outbursts of anger, verbally abusive to others
6. Lack of impulse control
7. Obscene language, gestures
8. Noisy, boisterous at inappropriate times
9. Crying for no apparent reason
10. Highly active, agitated
11. Erratic behavior
12. General changes in behavior patterns

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

1. Underweight
2. Overweight
3. Smells of tobacco, alcohol marijuana
4. Wears clothes that challenge the dress code or are inappropriate
5. Appears tense, on edge
6. Slurred or impaired speech
7. Appears sleepy, lethargic
8. Impaired vision
9. Impaired hearing
10. Frequent physical injuries
11. Deteriorating hygiene
12. Dramatic change in style of clothes
13. Sleeping in class
14. Glassy, bloodshot eyes
15. Dramatic change in style of clothes
16. Unsteady on feet
17. Problems with muscle or hand-eye coordination

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Attendance problems
2. Latchkey child
3. Involvement with community agencies
4. Death in the immediate family
5. Chronic illness in immediate family
6. Divorce or separation
7. Unemployment
8. Divorce or separation
9. Previously identified for drug/alcohol use
10. Adjudicated for a juvenile offense
11. Lives with someone other than parent
12. Known medical problem
13. Takes medication
14. Previously involved with counseling
15. Currently involved with counseling
16. Previously identified for assistance
17. Discusses concerns regarding drug/alcohol use in the home
18. Family member incarcerated or adjudicated

As educators or parents if we observe any of these signs or life skills deficiencies, we must immediately contact the school counselor to develop an action plan to help every child success. In every school, it is very important to establish an “Intervention and Referral Team” to improve academic success, social and emotional development of every child through creating short- and long-term plans

Türkçe Çeviri : Bingül UZEL ( TIKLA )

Dr. Olcay Yavuz
Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator
Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Department
Southern Connecticut State University, America
yavuzolcay@gmail.com