Knapp's News in Social Work

dance team auditions!

Please download the attached application and arrive in the theater ALL 3 DAYS afterschool on Thursday, Friday and Tuesday 8/28-9/3 until 5:30 pm.  Please prepare a 1 minute solo and have music on tape or CD the first day for coach's review.  Download dance_team_application.doc

For a description and judging criteria, please see the following:Download dance_team_description.doc

Download dance_judging_criteria.doc

Break a Leg!  Regular practices will be held in the 8th commons every Thursday morning 8-9am

school social work referral form 08-09

Please complete the attached referral form to process a request for services!  Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Download form_je4_school_social_worker_0809_referral_form.doc

Welcome Back!

Welcome to school! May I help you....?

I am the School Social Worker for Simpson Middle School where my office is located in the 6^th grade commons.  I also serve the elementary schools of Addison, Blackwell and Mountain View. My schedule involves me rotating between all schools throughout the day and week, dependent on the needs at the schools. However, I will always post my daily schedule on my door.  My office day will be Thursday and I will attempt to schedule necessary home visits on THURSDAYS,  as well.  Office phone# 7) 971-4836

The mission of the Cobb County School Social Workers (who are NOT DFACS case workers) is to provide services to students, families and schools with the primary focus of removing barriers to academic success:  www.cobbk12.org/Departments/SS/SSSocialWorker

While I serve to  be a link between home, school and community, the following are a few immediate services to help families:

• Immunizations & Screenings
• Healthcare Options for uninsured and under insured
• Translation support through the International Welcome Center
• Counseling Referrals-mental health and/or Nanny 911!
• Economic Assistance… food for daily breakfast for school readiness and emergency household bills.

·         Education:  As the School Social Worker, I will help to educate school staff and the community on issues of cultural diversity, facilitate support groups for the development of social skills, positive decision making, help students achieve maximum academic success, assist parents in understanding and supporting their children's education, participate as needed in Leadership Team/ CORE/SST Strategy meetings, encourage and monitor regular school attendance and punctuality of students, and initiate referrals to Juvenile Court.   Policy requires that ALL students must be referred the social worker when any 15 absences occur.

·         Advocacy:  As a student advocate I will serve as a voice for students struggling to communicate their needs and opinions, guide families in pursuit of needs, goods and services in the community, serve as liaison between student/family/school in conflict situations, report concerns of child abuse, neglect to appropriate agencies, assist parents in better understanding children's social/emotional needs, represent school position and needs in crisis situations and court interventions, provide counseling to students and families and consultations to school staff, and initiate parent conferences and make home visits to assess environmental factors affecting students education and social/emotional well being.

·         Community:  As a partner in the community I will help seek out and establish relationships with representatives of local agencies, establish community resource directory, establish relationships with local faith based organizations and church outreach personnel/volunteers, encourage community, church and business leaders to participate in school activities, serve on community outreach organizations and input ideas on development of policy, and maintain visible presence in the community as a volunteer in various organizations advocating for the welfare of children and youth.

As the School Social Worker, my caseload includes:

Holiday

Assistance  Please contact your SSW in October for holiday help.

·         abuse/neglect

·         academic problems

·         attendance/truancy  (see attached attendance policy)  Download attendance_blurb.doc

·         economic aid/community resources

·         family needs/disruptions

·         out of district

·         school discipline (habitual, mediation, conflict resolution, etc.)

·         mental health

·         crisis intervention (suicidal ideation, self-injury, runaway, etc.)

·         health/medical needs

·         substance abuse

To refer a student/family for social work services, please come by my office, call, or email any questions or concerns and I will try to make myself as available as possible to consult and discuss the student’s need in a confidential manner.  My office number is 770-971-4836.

I am really looking forward to working with each of you and our students and families as a collaborative team!

Sincerely,

Bethany Knapp, MSW

I am the School Social Worker for Simpson Middle School where my office is located in the 6^th grade commons.  I also serve the elementary schools of Addison, Blackwell and Mountain View. My schedule involves me rotating between all schools throughout the day and week, dependent on the needs at the schools. However, I will always post my daily schedule on my door.  My office day will be Thursday and I will attempt to schedule necessary home visits on THURSDAYS,  as well.  Office phone# 7) 971-4836

The mission of the Cobb County School Social Workers (who are NOT DFACS case workers) is to provide services to students, families and schools with the primary focus of removing barriers to academic success:  www.cobbk12.org/Departments/SS/SSSocialWorker

While I serve to  be a link between home, school and community, the following are a few immediate services to help families:

• Immunizations & Screenings
• Healthcare Options for uninsured and under insured
• Translation support through the International Welcome Center
• Counseling Referrals-mental health and/or Nanny 911!
• Economic Assistance… food for daily breakfast for school readiness and emergency household bills.

·         Education:  As the School Social Worker, I will help to educate school staff and the community on issues of cultural diversity, facilitate support groups for the development of social skills, positive decision making, help students achieve maximum academic success, assist parents in understanding and supporting their children's education, participate as needed in Leadership Team/ CORE/SST Strategy meetings, encourage and monitor regular school attendance and punctuality of students, and initiate referrals to Juvenile Court.   Policy requires that ALL students must be referred the social worker when any 15 absences occur.

·         Advocacy:  As a student advocate I will serve as a voice for students struggling to communicate their needs and opinions, guide families in pursuit of needs, goods and services in the community, serve as liaison between student/family/school in conflict situations, report concerns of child abuse, neglect to appropriate agencies, assist parents in better understanding children's social/emotional needs, represent school position and needs in crisis situations and court interventions, provide counseling to students and families and consultations to school staff, and initiate parent conferences and make home visits to assess environmental factors affecting students education and social/emotional well being.

·         Community:  As a partner in the community I will help seek out and establish relationships with representatives of local agencies, establish community resource directory, establish relationships with local faith based organizations and church outreach personnel/volunteers, encourage community, church and business leaders to participate in school activities, serve on community outreach organizations and input ideas on development of policy, and maintain visible presence in the community as a volunteer in various organizations advocating for the welfare of children and youth.

As the School Social Worker, my caseload includes:

Holiday

Assistance  Please contact your SSW in October for holiday help.

·         abuse/neglect

·         academic problems

·         attendance/truancy  (see attached attendance policy)  Download attendance_blurb.doc

·         economic aid/community resources

·         family needs/disruptions

·         out of district

·         school discipline (habitual, mediation, conflict resolution, etc.)

·         mental health

·         crisis intervention (suicidal ideation, self-injury, runaway, etc.)

·         health/medical needs

·         substance abuse

To refer a student/family for social work services, please come by my office, call, or email any questions or concerns and I will try to make myself as available as possible to consult and discuss the student’s need in a confidential manner.  My office number is 770-971-4836.

I am really looking forward to working with each of you and our students and families as a collaborative team!

Sincerely,

Bethany Knapp, MSW

Summer Solutions and 'Tween CPR

Attached you will find a list of summer camps available for all interests and abilities!Download summer_camps_08.doc

Here is a resource for teens with asperger's:  Download aspergers_ssg_flyer.pdf

**NEW** Course Offered by WellStar Corporate & Community Health:

American Heart Association- Heartsaver CPR in Schools. This credentialed course is specifically designed to teach young adults who are middle and high school age the life saving skill of CPR.

The course covers:Download cpr_in_schools.pdf

- Adult, child, and infant CPR

- Choking rescue for adult, child, and infant

- AED (Automated External Defibrilator) use

Safe Sitter Babysitting Education Course - ages 11-14Download safe_sitter.pdf

- What to do if a child chokes

- Safety for the sitter

- Babysitting business skills

- Basic child care skills (diapering, feeding, etc.)

- How to entertain children and keep them safe

Arts In Motion!

Simpson Dance Team is proud to host the 2nd Annual Performing Arts Recital Friday 4/25 at 6:30 at 3340 Trickum Rd...turn at CVS on Sandy Plains Rd.

We are very excited to showcase Addison Dance Express, Blackwell Dance Club, 

Girl Scout Troop 2550, Jazzercise,

singers, a rap artist, karate, juggling and jump rope!

The show will be under one hour and include the styles of

Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Ballet, Step and Tap dance! 

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students to raise funds for the school social work fund to benefit students and families in need attending Addison, Blackwell, Mountain View and Simpson schools!

Say NO to 4/20!!

Parents are used to hearing their teens speak in code - from the trendy catchphrase of the week to the popular acronyms used for text messaging and online chatting. But one term that might come up more frequently this time of year is "420" (pronounced "four-twenty"). Those familiar with popular drug culture might recognize the code as a reference to the annual pot-smoking holiday on April 20 (or 4-20). There are many theories explaining the origin of the term and the date - from the supposed number of active chemicals in marijuana to an alleged police crime code for drug arrests to the time of day a group of California teens congregated to smoke up in the 1960s. Whatever the actual origins of 420, many teens now know April 20th as the day to smoke marijuana. So parents should be especially mindful of monitoring for drug use on this day in particular. ParentingTips@TheAntiDrug.com

Parenting Classes...discipline that makes sense and more!

Hosted by Next Steps at 1650 County Services Pkwy. on 3/13  for 7 session that you can attend at choice for $20!!  Call Pam Johnson to sign up at 7)514-2422 ext. 2011  and see the attached fliers  Download step_parenting_class_flyer.rtf   Free for Next Step Clients

The Seven Topics:

1. Understanding yourself and your child

2.  Understanding beliefs and feelings

3.  Encouraging you child and yourself

4.  Listening and talking to your child

5.  Helping children cooperate

6.  Discipline that makes sense

7.  Choosing your approach

Smart Discipline & Next Steps Groups

Please see the attached flyer for America's Most Well Attended Seminar : Smart Discipline, Program for Parents on Tuesday 2/19 at 7-9pm with free childcare!!  Stop fighting and negative Attitudes and increase Confidence and Motivation along with strategies to help with ADHD   Download smart_discipline_workshop.doc

After School Counseling Groups with free transportation available at Next Steps for all ages kids and teens:  Control and Anger Management, Self- Esteem, Grief and Loss, Depression and Anxiety, Social and Communication skills, Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Dual Diagnosis, Young Males, Entrepreneural skills and ADHD management .....takes medicaid, Peachcare and reduced fee by sliding scale.    Give your kids the opportunity to gain professional support in the areas most affecting their lives!  Call 770-514-2422  Download NextStepsGroups.doc

Free Workshop for Parenting Boys to Men

The workshop is called "Mothers Raising Sons - from Boys to Men" and will be in the form of an interactive discussion panel.  Topics Covered will include building strong male character, managing through expressions of masculinity, dealing with the complexities of an absent or inactive father, identifying positive role models, and much more. The workshop will be on Saturday, February 16 from 9:30-12:30 at the Mansour Center (995 Roswell Street, Marietta GA 30060) and is open to ALL parents and grandparents (not just single mothers).  Supervision will be provided for children ages 5-12 in the form of the "fun factory" to allow the parents to attend the workshop.  Flyer attached Download mothers_raising_sons_sat_2_16 

Pre-registration is required - to register, the parent can call 770-794-0398  More information is available at www.singleparentconnection.net

free clothes Feb. 2nd

The Giving Tree Event!  See attached flyer for information and directions.Download giving_tree_flyer_feb.doc