Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
In-Service Descriptions
2011-2012
An Act Relative to Bullying - How This Legislation Impacts Our Schools
This in-service training helps school districts understand this mandate by reviewing the specifics of the legislation and emphasizes when bullying, which is prohibited but not a crime, becomes criminal. We also explore the critical cyber component of bullying. This in-service training supports Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s 2011-2012 school-based initiative on healthy relationships.
Cyber Safety from a Forensic Perspective — Sexting, Texting & Child Predators*
The internet, cell phones and social networking sites offer powerful and almost limitless opportunities to gain knowledge and make contact with others. When used appropriately, it is a powerful and positive tool. However, there are many pitfalls and risks to young people. Effective prevention and intervention strategies for school staff and parents will be presented. The capabilities of the Middlesex District Attorney's Office Cyber Protection Program, created in 2007 by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone will also be outlined. Cyber safety will be the featured topic for the annual PSA Project this year. Please see the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. website for details. A Cyber Safety in the Home and Community is also available for parents and community members. Please note that a minimum of 25 participants is needed.
Protecting Children & Youth: 51 A Mandated Reporting
Training in the 51A process is now mandatory for all licensed school staff working with students. In order to facilitate training large numbers of staff, the Child Abuse Unit at the Middlesex District Attorney's Office has created a free online training. All that participants need is internet access to use this user friendly training. This training is available at www.middlesexcac.org/51a-omrt. This training outlines indicators of abuse and/or neglect and explains what to do if a mandated reporter suspects child abuse or neglect. The legal process regarding 51A mandated reporting is explained. The Child Abuse Unit is part of the Family Protection Bureau reorganized by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone in 2007.Representatives of the Child Abuse Unit at the Middlesex District Attorney's Office continue to be available for site based in service trainings.
Underage Substance Use*
Substance use by teens continues to be a major issue. While street drugs are readily available in many communities, many teen drug users easily obtain over-the-counter or prescription medications from a variety of sources, including their family’s medicine cabinet. Use of inhalants, steroids and bath salts is also presented in this in-service workshop. Additionally, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone actively collaborates with schools and community organizations to promote healthy teen relationships. All in service trainings require a minimum of 25 participants.
Social Host Liability
This in service training is offered for parents and community members. This training is aimed at giving parents the most up to date information as to the legal, social and health-related consequences of serving minors alcohol. Particularly during prom and graduation season, parents need to understand their personal liability if minors are drinking in their home, even without their knowledge or approval. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone's efforts in collaboration with school districts during prom and graduation season will also be discussed.
Improving Attendance & Truancy
This training focuses on the importance of intervening early when students, especially in elementary school, show a pattern of missing school or arriving late. The dynamics of why some students have difficulty coming to school in a timely manner will be discussed, along with strategies to intervene with the families to foster communication and collaboration on the common goal of having the student attend school. Legal avenues including the Failure to Send law and the Child in Need of Services (CHINS) process will be explained, along with how to successfully partner with the courts and social service agencies.
Teen Dating Violence
Teen dating abuse is on the rise nationally. Many teens have little understanding about what it means to be in a healthy relationship. In fact, 1 in 3 teens report knowing a friend or peer who experienced assaultive behavior by their significant other. This workshop will explore the dynamics of teen dating abuse through the eyes of teens. It will also review forms of emotional abuse unique to the teenage population and examine cultural and societal influences that perpetuate ideals of power and control. This in-service training supports Middlesex Gerry Leone’s school-based initiative to build healthy teen relationships.
Gangs in Our Communities
A growing concern about gangs, gang activity and gang behavior has emerged in many communities. This training highlights the trademarks (colors, signs, graffiti and tagging) of various national and local gangs and explains how they recruit and retain members. Organizational structure of gangs and their impact on communities will be presented in this workshop. Gang prevention strategies including alternative community affiliations will be explored. This in-service is made possible, in part, from a previous Project Safe Neighborhood grant awarded to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone's office. The Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit spearheads this presentation.
Emergency Preparedness
Does your school district/community have a plan should there be a natural disaster or terrorist attack? Is this plan well articulated and clearly understood by all constituents? Has your community held drills with opportunities for integrating police and fire personnel? Do all your schools have well stocked emergency kits? The best approach to emergencies in communities and schools are based on effective collaboration between agencies. This individualized training addresses these important considerations for emergency preparedness, including table top exercises. This in-service supports District Attorney Gerry Leone's SECURE (Safe Effective Community Understanding and Response to Emergencies) initiative.
This in-service is only offered within school districts, please contact Margie Daniels at 781 897-6808 to arrange this in-service.
This training is designed to improve the skills and confidence of counselors and other key school officials who are on the frontline in the identification of students who are at-risk for suicide. Participants will learn the scope of the problem review suicide risk factors. We will present best practices in risk assessment, and attendees will learn several techniques for eliciting suicidal ideation.
School Investigations: Bullying, Harassment, Drugs, Weapons
Under what circumstances do school officials have a legal right to search and/or seize? What is the school’s duty to investigate under An Act Relative to Bullying? For schools to be safe, they must be free from harassment, weapons and contraband. This in-service training clarifies the role of the school and the role of the police in areas such as search/seizure of cell phones and other electronic devices.
The Dynamic of the Power Differential - How This Impacts Bullying
An Act Relative to Bullying does more than create mandatory reporting for bullying incidents. M.G.L. ch.71 §37O also includes a professional development requirement by which all school districts must educate staff in the use of developmentally appropriate bullying prevention and intervention strategies, as well as have a working understanding the “complex interaction and power differential” in bullying cases. This in-service delves into these areas.
The Social Media Revolution - Facing Up to Facebook*
Whether we like it or not, teens and parents throughout Middlesex County are using Facebook. It, and other social networking sites, has truly revolutionized the way we communicate. This workshop takes a practical approach to Facebook, including a systematic guide to the ever-changing privacy settings.
Texting & Driving - "It Can Wait"
This program, sponsored in collaboration with AT&T, is an anti-texting and driving educational presentation. It includes a powerful and moving documentary, produced by AT&T, which features stories from individuals whose lives have been forever altered by texting while driving.
As an MPY member, you are entitled to 5 FREE in-service trainings each school year. In-service trainings are presented on-site, in your district/school site. You may select from the in-service workshops described to the right. A minimum attendance of 25 is required per training. Each district conducts its own preregistration. If you anticipate a drop in attendance or need to cancel, please call MPY, Inc. at least 48 hours in advance. The in-service may be cancelled at the presenter's discretion due to inclement weather or low attendance.
Please Contact - Margaret Brumberg at 781-897-6802 to request in-services or email her at margaret.brumberg@state.ma.us.
