From CASP Today

Spring 2003

Foundation Awards First Mini Grants

A new awards program offered by the California School Psychology Foundation was kicked off at CASP Convention 2003 with the awards of two $500 mini grants to school psychologists.

Awarded annually, the mini grants are designed to promote effective interventions that address both learning and social/emotional issues that impede a child’s success and happiness while embracing individual and group differences in children.

Wynne Wong, a school psychologist with the Farmdale Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District, and Rose DuMond, with the Campbell Union High School District, were the first to receive the mini grants and will use them for alternative school programs.

Ms. Wong’s Guardian Angel Program provides at-risk students with support and attention from school staff members. Each participating school staff member is assigned to a student who has been referred by a teacher, parent or Student Study Team. The staff member meets with the student several times a day, helping with projects and giving feedback to teachers. The result has been a decrease in inappropriate referrals to special education evaluations.

Ms. DuMond’s program is run in conjunction with Beacon School, a nonpublic school, and provides a small, therapeutic environment for students with emotional disturbances who may not otherwise be supported on a regular high school campus. The students are housed in a public high school, but are in need of extra study tools.

A review committee established by the Foundation Board of Directors makes the awards. Board members are interested in projects that directly affect the lives of children and/or their families. Grants are for a maximum of $500. Go to www.casponline.org for a mini grant application.

The first mini grants were awarded at the CASP Convention Awards Luncheon by Foundation President Wendy Sharp.

From CASP Today

Winter 2004

Results of Foundation Mini-Grant Program Announced

The first two school psychologists to receive Mini-Grants from the California School Psychology Foundation have reported excellent results from the program.

The Mini-Grant program allows school psychologists to apply for up to $500 for materials or items needed by programs, individual students or for ideas that need a small amount of money but mean a lot to those benefiting.

The Guardian Angel Program at Farmdale Elementary School (K-5) of the Los Angeles Unified School District was one of the beneficiaries of a grant awarded last year. School psychologist Wynne Wong's successful application helped fund the project that provides at-risk students with further support and attention.

"The uniqueness of this mentorship program has been the ability to build involvement within our school staff and help individuals make a difference in children’s lives," she wrote. "Because of the tremendous support we’ve received from the California School Psychology Foundation Mini Grant last year, Farmdale was able to continue building the awareness and growth of this program."

With the Mini Grant, Ms. Wong was able to expand this program and offer more resources and support to the Guardian Angels. The grant funds were used to expand reward activities for the program, with such items as books, games, videos, and tapes, which will be used for years to come. These rewards are earned by the students to borrow or be used with their Guardian Angels.

Through monthly Guardian Angel meetings, member mentors have been able to discuss issues and share experiences with other Angels, the school psychologist, the school social worker and the rest of the support staff in the program. Goals of intended outcomes, based on teacher [and Guardian Angel] feedback forms, student observations, review of progress reports and Student Success Team follow-up forms, are continuously measured.

As a result of these meetings and the program, SST cases have been "closed" due to significant progress in social and academic areas, more teachers now utilize and express faith in the SST process, inappropriate referrals to special education evaluations decreased by 40 percent, and disciplinary issues decreased by 75% of the students in the Guardian Angel program.

Ms. Wong reported that the program mentors have made a positive impact in their students’ lives. As a result of these relationships, students have improved overall attendance, earned field trips with their class due to following up on requirements by their teachers, have improved homework completion, decreased office disciplinary referrals to the principal, improved grades on progress reports, and built overall student motivation and self-esteem.

The Beacon Satellite program at Branham High School in the San Jose area was able to use the funding from the CASP Foundation Mini-Grant to buy needed literature books, art supplies, and athletic equipment. School psychologist Rose DuMond, who successfully applied for the grant, said the small class of 10 students has benefited through increased options for independent reading selections, art exploration and PE within this self-contained therapeutic classroom environment. The class is particularly excited about the latest projects they have created in wire sculpture as gifts for Christmas and which decorate the windows throughout the room.

All school psychologist members of CASP are invited to apply for the Mini-Grant. For more information go to the CASP web site at www.casponline.org and click on the Foundation section.

From CASP Today

Spring 2004

Foundation Mini-Grants Awarded

Students will attend science camp and an anger management program will be started with funds from the California School Psychology Foundation's Mini-Grant program.

Kevin Van Laeken, a school psychologist with the Antelope Valley High School District, received funding for curriculum and materials through the mini-grant, awarded at the 2004 CASP Convention. The grant will help provide 30 students identified as having an emotional disorder with anger management receive counseling in a group setting. The goal of this project is to develop the students' social skills and create a greater awareness of their actions and reactions.

Harriet Erbes and Connie Hilton applied for funds from the Mini-Grant program to assist five sixth-grade students from Del Roble Elementary School in San Jose with the costs of a science camp. The camp will provide the students, who otherwise could not afford to go, with outdoor science education, social opportunities and personal growth.

The CSP Foundation offers the Mini-Grant program throughout the year. School psychologists may apply for up to $500 to pay for programs, materials or even uniforms that will help deserving students. Applications for the program are available online at www.casponline.org.

A program funded earlier by the Foundation was also recognized at the convention Awards Luncheon. Connie Luizzi, a school psychologist with the Huntington Beach Union High School District won funds for a program that to utilizes the seven effective habits and 10 life strategies to assist these at-risk students build character and self-esteem and to improve their personal relationships as well as over-all behavior.

Developing Interpersonal Skills (DIPS) is a program for at-risk regular education high school students who are currently enrolled in a self-contained Community Day School within the high school district. Since September 2003, 16 students have benefited from dialogue and a variety of activities in small and large group settings. Books on the effective habits and life strategies are also available to the students as part of the program.

Students work on setting goals each week and respond to journal prompts each day. Real life issues are presented and discussed on a regular basis to help develop and utilize coping skills. The program is supported by the teacher and the school psychologist who continue to tie effective habits, life strategies, and asset/character-building to real life issues so that students are able to apply what they learn in the real world.

From CASP Today

Summer 2004

Mini-grant to Fund Strummin' Students

Middle and high school students with emotional and behavioral difficulties may be among the musicians of tomorrow through a California School Psychology Foundation Mini-Grant awarded to the Sonoma County Office of Education.

The $500 grant will help fund a program called "Strumming to Success: Building Self-Esteem through Music." Guitars, instructional videos and songbooks will be made available to students who wish to pursue a music elective.

Melinda Susan, a school psychologist who wrote the grant proposal, stated that it is hoped that the music program will give the students the confidence to integrate into the general education setting when that opportunity is available. The program will be among those offered to help students develop coping strategies and to learn responsible behaviors so they may be able to function in their communities.

The Foundation Mini-Grant program awards a maximum of $500 to school psychologists who use the funds to improve the lives of students. The funds have been used for rewards for an elementary school's Guardian Angels program and to send students to a science camp. They have also been used to buy needed literature books, art supplies, and athletic equipment for a special education program.

School psychologists may apply for the grants, to assist special education, disabled and at-risk students with the opportunity to participate in programs and activities that would not be possible without additional support. Applications are available on the CASP web site, www.casponline.org, or by calling the CASP office at 916/444-1595.