The Dropout Prevention Specialist Workbook

Howard M. Blonsky, MSW, LCSW, started his career in mental health environments and has used his experience to make a difference in schools. He served thirty-five years with the San Francisco United Schools District and formerly directed the Schools Partnership Training Institute, a foundation-funded program aimed at uniting communities' greater resources with those of schools. After completing a clinical fellowship in psychiatry, Mr. Blonsky worked to bridge mental health and education in his work with students and families. He has supervised school dropout-prevention programs on the federal and California state levels. He has a passion for improving student attendance and reducing student dropouts.

• Chapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. The Importance and Benefits of TeamingChapter 3. Team Structures: The CARE Team, Student Success Team, and the School Attendance Review TeamChapter 4. Case ManagementChapter 5. School Climate and Culture and its relationship to dropout preventionChapter 6. Handling Misbehavior: Building Positive RelationshipsChapter 7. 100% Attendance: Myth or Reality?Chapter 8. The 9th Grade ExperienceChapter 9. Re-Engaging Out of School YouthChapter 10. Communication, Coordination and Collaboration, School and Community InvolvementChapter 11. Assessing Learning Levels and Help for StudentsChapter 12. Building Comprehensive Dropout Prevention and Recovery/Re-Entry Programs Concluding CommentsReferences