STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Leadership Team
The Leadership Team at St. Vincent School works in a collaborative form to develop the student’s self-esteem and self confidence by having them participate in a wide range of activities within the school, parish and community.
Students feel a sense of pride and belonging to the school community that leads to improved social-emotional, behavior and school achievements. The counseling and health department are integral partners of the multidisciplinary team and can provide recommendations for the safety and well-being of students. This includes and is not limited to attending STEP and IEP meeting, school searches, custody orders or other legal documents, disciplinary conferences with student/teacher and/or parent/teacher conferences, home study program, safety practices, safety plans, action plans, behavior plans, care plans for students with special health needs/general care plans (seizure/asthma- action plan/food and allergy and anaphylaxis emergency care plan), medication authorization and permission form, physical entry forms, medical history form, medical statement to request special meals and accommodations, etc.
All staff of the counseling and health department and the staff that support them in emergency situations/cases are mandated reporters. Together we all collaborate to encompass a positive and innovative learning environment.
Support Team Education Plan (STEP)
The Support Team Education Plan (STEP) Program is a collaborative process that brings together students, parents/guardians, teachers, school counselor, school therapist and administrators to seek positive solutions based on a student’s strengths and special needs to help that student benefit from his or her education and to facilitate participation in the Catholic school curriculum.
St. Vincent School has appointed administration as STEP coordinators, they are responsible for overseeing and directing the STEP Program. In response to a student’s needs, the STEP coordinator assembles a STEP Team, which consists of the parents/guardians, the classroom or homeroom teacher, the STEP coordinator, other school personnel as needed, and the student when appropriate. The STEP Team gathers information and data regarding the student from a variety of sources, including grade reports, standardized testing results, samples of class work, discipline records, questionnaires, interviews, psycho-educational reports, medical records, etc. to develop the student’s STEP. The Leadership Team works closely with the Counseling Department with STEP.
https://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/Handbook%20Resources/STEP%20Form%2015_STEP_Parent_Handout.pdf#search=STEP%20form%2015
STEP Contact Information:
Administration
STEP Support with Academic Assessment Request with School of Residence and Counseling Cases ONLY:
Case Worker
COUNSELING SERVICES (collaboration with case worker and health clerk)
The purpose of the counseling department is to provide advocacy support and guidance in a safe haven enviroment to each student and his/her family. The counseling department helps build a positive school environment by encouraging collaboration among faculty, teachers, administrators, student’s parents/guardians, and the community. Each student is a valued individual with unique intellectual, social-emotional and academic needs.
These services are voluntary, not mandatory and at no additional cost as it is one of the programs offered through the Daughters of Charity Support System. HOPE Counseling Services offer preventative short-term mental health services. These services are available for St. Vincent School students only during the academic school year.
At St. Vincent School, we are committed to making every effort to ensure that each program is equipped with the necessary documentation and forms to comply with HIPAA regulations. All records are confidential and owned by the service provider. We will hold limited documentation for the program(s) your child(ren) participates in. This includes necessary documentation such as consent forms, release of information forms, progress reports, closing summaries and health logs/documentation. At St. Vincent School, parents/guardians are informed of privacy laws that safeguard the confidentiality of protected health information (PHI), with exceptions for cases such as mandatory reporting of child, elder, or vulnerable adult abuse, danger to self or others, and mental/emotional health concerns.
The counselor, case worker and/or therapist provide individual, group and intervention services to students referred by administration, teachers, staff, parents, and the students themselves. Counseling services can be beneficial for any social emotional concerns.
The counseling department offers a preventative school-based counseling program and support services. The counseling department works in collaboration with administration. The counselor, therapist, case worker and health clerk/school nurse are fully qualified in their role to provide services in a catholic school setting. They are trusted and capable sources of support for the entire school community. They create partnerships with students, parents, teachers and outside providers to help students achieve their goals. They work with parents to improve communication and provide interventions and guidance. They promote student success in the classroom by focusing on the critical connection between a student’s social emotional health. The counseling and health department empowers students to become their own advocates.
At St. Vincent School we have a family resource counselor/school counselor, school therapist, case worker and health clerk on campus, (schedule varies). - request further information from the main office regarding their schedule. For clarification the counselor, case worker and health clerk are employees of the school. The therapist, school nurse, title I, speech services, dance instructor, CSC everybody can dance, and catapult intervention TA’s are subcontractors. All concers related to subcontractors should only be addrresed to principal.
The school counselor supports administration as the liaison for the following services offered at the school site: Title I Services (no service fee), Speech Services (monthly service fee) and Dance Afterschool Program (monthly service fee) and CSC everybody can dance (no fee). The case worker and fundraiser marketing/volunteer will be responsible for obtaining the necessary consent forms and sending any invoice to the parents for fees. All service providers' schedules vary. - request further information from the main office regarding their schedule.
The Fundraiser Marketing Volunteer is responsible for all invoices for any student activities/program that includes a fee.
The school counselor supports administration as the liaison between The Department of Children and Family Services, The Department of Social Services, Los Angeles Police Department, Family Court (mediator/court investigators), Law Offices, Unified School District, Mental Health, etc. and all other agencies that are conducting a wellness check, assessment, and/or investigation. This includes and is not limited to gathering information related to academics, diagnosis, assessments, hospitalizations, forms requested from providers, etc. and any related information to the student’s mental health and academic progress.
The parent/guardian is required to provide signed consent for preventative short-term counseling services. It is important to note services are not guaranteed based on the caseload. In instances where services are not readily available, appropriate referrals will be offered. In emergency, intervention or crisis scenarios, the school counselor, therapist, case worker and/or health clerk may meet with a student without a written consent from their parent or guardian in order to ensure the student's safety and well-being while gathering more information.
Parent's verbal consent will be accepted in a case on an emergency basis for a student to meet with the counselor, therapist, case worker and/or health clerk/school nurse. The counselor, therapist, case worker and/or health clerk/school nurse, may be present when an administration is meeting with the student(s). The parent/guardian will be promptly notified by a representative of the counseling department, health office or administrator regarding their child's meeting with the counselor, therapist, case worker and/or health clerk/school nurse.
The Parent(s)/Legal Guardians must agree to sign a release of information form to allow a representative from the counseling department, health office, and/or administrator to exchange information with another agency. The primary contact on all Release of Information forms is the school counselor and case worker. This includes and is not limited to gathering information from the teachers and requesting them to complete any forms requested by you or a provider. St. Vincent School is not liable for any of the services, referrals, assessments, recommendations, and/or any malpractice that either of the collaborators conducts.
In regard to staff, subcontractors, or volunteers who have their child(ren) enrolled at St. Vincent School, please consult with administrators regarding the counseling department's procedures/practices. This includes, but is not limited to, the guidelines for parent/teacher conferences, where the non-staff/subcontractor/volunteer parent should be designated as the primary contact and should participate in all school-related meetings with a member of the Leadership Team present at all times. It is important that staff, subcontractors, or volunteers are not contacted during their work/volunteer hours under any circumstances to address any concerns related to their child(ren). Any expectations or arrangements should be discussed and approved by administration exclusively.
In cases of actual or suspected child abuse or abuse of vulnerable adults, the Archdiocesan
The Victims' Assistance Ministry is available as a resource. The Victims' Assistance Ministry
provides outreach and guidance to those suffering from abuse; sponsors a faith-based trauma
recovery program; and assists in informing parish, school, archdiocesan and governmental
authorities of the allegations of abuse. Referral to the Victim's Assistance Ministry is not a
substitute for mandated reporting of suspected abuse. Such a report must be made in accordance with Archdiocesan policy.
