Special Resource Material Developed by the Center


Title: Best Practices in the Use of Resource Teams to Enhance Learning Supports

Description: Case-oriented work has long dominated school psychology. As a result, many school psychologists and their student support colleagues are not yet engaged in resource-oriented teams. In fact, some may say, "What's that got to do With my job?" Others may say, "What's that got to do with helping kids?"

Pursuit of best practices for carrying out resource-oriented functions is essential to end the marginalization that continues to seriously impede the contribution of student support staff and that leads to reductions in force. Teams focused on student support resources represent changes in school infrastructure that engage support staff in the type of analyses essential if school improvement planning and decision making are to create comprehensive systems of learning supports.

It is widely conceded that student supports tend to be fragmented and narrowly focused and reach only a small proportion of those in need. Moreover, sparse budgets lead school psychologists, counselors, social workers, nurses, and other support staff into counterproductive competition with each other and with community professionals working with schools. Clearly, changes are needed. Resource-oriented teams can play a major role in altering this unacceptable status quo.

Access at:   http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/publications/best practices in the use of resource teams to enhance learning supports.pdf (For Personal Use Only)  17pp.; 1.3Meg