Welcome To Child Welfare, Attendance, and Safety
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The aspiration of the Child Welfare, Attendance and Safety Department is to promote student success. We believe in the fundamental principle of equity and fair treatment of all Pasadena Unified School District students. All students will be provided fair access and opportunity to comprehensive services that meet their needs. We strive to create a culture of collaboration by engaging community stakeholders, families, students, and staff in strategically addressing the barriers to student success.
Through communication, collaboration, and engagement, our team of experienced professionals deliver student, family and community services, maximizing school achievement for students at all levels of learning and overcoming the academic, social, emotional, or physical barriers which may impede student success.
We focus on areas of:
- Alternative Education Placement Committee
- ALternative to Suspension Program
- Attendance and Truancy
- Behavior Intervention
- Behavior RTI: Response to Intervention
- Bullying Prevention
- CWAS Mental Health Crisis Response Team
- Discipline Guidelines - Suspension, Expulsion, and Alternative to Suspension & Expulsion
- Foster Youth Community Liaison
- Foster Youth Consortium
- Foster Youth Sensitivity Training
- Mandated Child Abuse Reporting Training
- Master's in Social Work Intern Program
- Mental Health Consortium
- Mental Health Services
- Mentoring/Mentors for L.I.F.E.
- Restorative Justice Practices
- Section 504 Plan
- SARB (School Attendance Review Board)
- SART (School Attendance Review Team)
- Scholars Transitioning and Realizing Success (STARS)
- School Safety
- Social Emotional Supports
- PUSD Clinical Social Workers
- For more information contact CWAS
All Healthy Kids Surveys can be found on the following link: http://chks.wested.org/administer/download/
ADDRESSING CHILDREN'S WORRIES ABOUT CORONAVIRUS
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Addressing Students’ Worry & Anxiety about Coronavirus COVID-19
Children and teens react to anxiety and stress differently than adults. Some may react right away; others may show signs that they are having a difficult time much later.
Overhearing adult conversations about events happening in their communities, watching or reading the news can make them feel scared, confused, or anxious, in much the same way as adults. This is true even if they live far from where the outbreak is taking place and are at little or no risk of getting sick.
As parents/caregivers, the best way you can support their wellness and healing is by staying calm. Children will react to what you say and how you say it. Make yourself available to listen and talk. Let them know that adults at home and school are taking care of their health and safety. Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio or online. Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on the Coronavirus. Too much information on one topic can lead to fear, worry, and anxiety.
Below are some helpful articles on talking to your children about the current viral outbreak.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf
Talking With Children:
Tips For Caregivers, Parents, And Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4886.pdf
Talking to Kids about the Coronavirus https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/Get Help
If you or your child are having a difficult time coping with the outbreak and want to seek outside help, contact your medical provider or insurance or speak to a trained counselor to get support regarding your anxiety or stress:- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990
PUSD Mental Health Programs
The Pasadena Unified School District partners with the following mental health agencies who can provide support. Please locate your student's school below along with the mental health agency that services your student's school site. Agency numbers are listed for your convenience. Please call PUSD Family Hotline at (626) 396-3680 should you have any questions or need additional information.
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D’Veal Family and Youth Services: (626) 296-8900 (Altadena Elementary and John Muir High School)
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Five Acres: (626) 993-3100 (Jefferson Elementary, Washington STEM, Washington STEAM)
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Foothill Family: (626) 993-3000 (Eliot Middle School, Hamilton Elementary, Willard Elementary, Marshall Secondary School)
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Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services: (844) 222-2377 (Longfellow, Madison, PHS, Webster)
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Hillsides: (323) 254-2274 (Franklin Elementary, Wilson Middle)
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Pacific Clinics: (877) 722-2737(Jackson, Roosevelt, Rose City High School)
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PUSD Mental Health Services : (626) 396-5920 ( Blair MS and HS, McKinley ES and MS, Don Benito ES, Eliot Middle School, Field, Focus Point Academy, Norma Coombs, Sierra Madres ES andMS, Washington STEM and STEAM)
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Young and Healthy: (626) 795-5166
Note: this information is also available on the PUSD Health Programs Webpage
Immigration Protection
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In December 2016, the Pasadena Unified Board of Education joined California educational institutions in approving the resolution 2386 “Safe Zones for Students Threatened by Immigration Enforcement.” Our schools will continue to be the anchors of our neighborhoods, where all students and their families are welcomed, valued, and supported. We will continue to collaborate with each other and our partners to achieve academic excellence, celebrate our strengths and cultural diversity.
Contacts
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Olga Vanessa Torres
CWAS Coordinator
626.396.3600 ext. 88231
Office: Monday, Thursday & Friday
Remote: Tuesday & WednesdayLara Choulakian
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
626.396.3600 ext. 88233
Office: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday
Remote: Tuesday & FridayPaul-Michael Dalton
Child Welfare Attendance and Safety Counselor
626.396.3600 ext. 88236
Office: Tuesday & Wednesday
Remote: Monday, Thursday & FridayFranchesca Ocasio
Foster Youth Liaison
626.396.3600 ext. 88248
Remote: Monday - FridayLloyd Dabasol
Attendance Specialist
626.396.3600 ext. 88232
Office: Monday & Thursday
Remote: Tuesday, Wednesday & FridayGiovanni Ayala
CWAS Intervention Specialist
626.396.3600 ext. 88230
Remote: Monday - FridayElsa Gutierrez
CWAS Alternative to Suspension
Academic Intervention Teacher
626.396.3600 ext. 88230
Remote: Monday - FridayAna Gonzalez
CWAS Community Liaison Specialist
626.396.3600 ext. 88237
Remote: Monday - FridayRandel Johnson
CWAS Behavioral Specialist
626.396.3600 ext. 88230Luisana Marquez
Clinical Social Worker
626.396.3600 ext. 40592
Remote: Monday - FridaySusana Arellano
CWAS Project Aide
626.396.3600 ext. 88230Julia Sahakian
CWAS Student Worker
626.396.3600 ext. 88230
For Appointments
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Pease call: 626.396.3609
Room: 206