Net Exchange Response


Title: About a Learning Support Resource Team

Date Posted: 9/25/2006

Question: “I am very interested in the idea of establishing teams to coordinate resources within schools. I recently read an article that you wrote titled "Establishing School- Based Collaborative Teams to Coordinate Resources: A Case Study". My work is focused around starting a program similar to what you did in LA (on a much smaller scale).”

Response:

We have continued to refine the critical infrastructure mechanism we initially called a “Resource Coordinating Team.” We have found the term “Learning Supports Resource Team” is actually more descriptive of its main focus. There are a number of resource aids online on our website related to the functions and development of such a team (go to http//smhp.psych.ucla.edu and click on Center Materials -- scroll through the list for the relevant resources available for downloading at no cost.

Here are a few:

    For introducing the idea to decision makers and colleagues, see the one page overview Fact Sheet: What is a Learning Support Resource Team? http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/resource coord team.pdf

    For more, see Resource Oriented Teams: Key Infrastructure Mechanisms for Enhancing Education Supports – Pulls together the Center's work on resource-oriented mechanisms designed to ensure schools pay systematic attention to how they use resources for addressing barriers to learning and promoting healthy development. http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/Report/resource_oriented_teams.pdf

    For establishing the team, see Developing Resource-Oriented Mechanisms to Enhance Learning Supports - A Continuing Education Packet–This set of training modules is designed as an aid for training leaders and staff about the importance of and how to establish effective resource-oriented mechanisms to advance development of a comprehensive, multifaceted, and integrated learning supports (or enabling) component at every school. http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/contedu/developing_resource_oriented-mechanisms.pdf

    For tools to aid the team in mapping and analyzing resources, see the det of surveys developed by the Center. Addressing Barriers to Learning: A Set of Surveys to Map What a School Has and What It Needs – Surveys for 6 program areas and related system needs that constitute a comprehensive, multifaceted, and integrated approach to address barriers and thus enable learning. The areas are (1) classroom-focused enabling, (2) crisis assistance and prevention, (3) support for transitions, (4) home involvement in schooling, (5) student and family assistance programs and services, and (6) community outreach for involvement and support (including volunteers). – http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/Surveys/Set1.pdf


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    UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools
    Dept. of Psychology, P.O.Box 951563, Los Angeles, CA 90095.
    tel: (310)825-3634
    email: Linda Taylor ~ web: https://smhp.psych.ucla.edu