School Psychologists Association of S.E. Manitoba
Present: Ron Teffaine, Bill Stevens, Suzanne Robert, Suzanne Golden, Nelson Fry, Sandra McMullen, Adeline Forrester, Dale Laird, Jeremy Davidson, Michael Hogan, Karen Pain, Lynn Tovell, Zlata Hajin, Chantal Lisowski.
Minutes
Brigette Hildebrand - The Elementary Social Worker from Hanover SD presented information about Bully-Proofing. She talked about how various types of interventions are needed, targeting awareness for parents, teachers, and students, as well as group training for students, and individual counselling for victims and bullies. She gave a very thorough PowerPoint presentation, which was adapted from Hanover's Crisis Counsellor, Geri Harder-Robson. In addition, she provided a detailed article and other handouts.
Lori Middendorp - A Prevention & Education Consultant from The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba conducted a workshop on intervention models and best practices for helping adolescents gain freedom from drugs and alcohol using principles of motivational interviewing. After reviewing current statistics of drug and alcohol use among Canadian adolescents, she presented the 5 components of Motivational Interviewing: (1) express empathy, (2) develop discrepancy, (3) avoid argumentation, (4) roll with resistance, and (5) promote self-efficacy. She also talked about the stages of change (e.g., pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination), and the need to provide the right type of intervention at each stage to facilitate growth toward a healthier life-style. Lori highly recommended a book called "Motivational Interviewing" by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick (1991), Guilford Press.
Ron Teffaine - Presented a PowerPoint slide show about Hanover School Division's version of Threat Assessment. Various handouts were given to facilitate the "four-pronged assessment" developed and released by the FBI in 1999. Discussion occurred about various implementation options. Incidentally, a copy of the PowerPoint slide show can be downloaded from the "Materials" section of this website. Just right-click on the title below the document picture, and select "Save As" with your mouse. Feel free to adapt the slide show to meet your division's needs. Bill Stevens recommended that the sample intervention plan include information about what the RCMP could provide, and that Bully-Proofing be part of the safety measures employed. He also emphasized the importance of each school communicating the threat assessment process to parents, students, and teachers at the beginning of each school year via oral means (e.g., at assemblies) and written methods (e.g., newsletter, student handbook, etc.).