K. A. R. S. S.
Keeping At-Risk Students in School
My name is Elyse Bost and I am the new K.A.R.S.S. and Safe Place Coordinator at the YSB in Jay County! I love the K.A.R.S.S. program! The ability to take students to connect to the community is so important, along with showing them all they can give back with just a little bit of their time. One of my plans for the program is to get students connected with members in the community to allow room for all different kinds of opportunity. The most important thing for me to accomplish in this program is students graduating and having an idea of what they would like to accomplish after high school! It can be intimidating to graduate and not know all of the different options available to you. I just want to help them find where they want to go and give them the tools to get there!
The program is offered to Jay County students who are suspended, recommended for expulsion, and those at-risk of not graduating or being suspended/expelled. Each element of the KARSS Program provides the student an opportunity to evaluate their choices which facilitated the referral, improve school performance, and to become more connected with family, community, and self. Specific processes will vary for each student based on individualized case plans and needs, but each will encourage positive behavior change and build feelings of competency, usefulness, belonging, and empowerment, all critical elements to preventing juvenile delinquency.
- Referrals can be made by anyone, but must be approved by the Jay School Corp.
- The program serves students in grades 7-12.
- Work with clients is mostly one to one, or one to two.
- Services provided to participants
- Assistance in completing any missing assignments
- Maintenance of incoming assignments
- Assistance/tutoring in problem subjects as needed
- Development of positive behavior change through the use of evidence-based life skills worksheets and follow-up discussion
- Encouragement of skill building associated with problem solving, conflict resolution, personal responsibility, and self esteem
- Assistance with identifying areas of interest to involve the student in community service that would provide instruction and experience in that area
- Support with transitioning the student back into the regular school day
- Supervision of student compliance to the personalized case plan
Contact/Referral Information: Elyse Bost Telephone: 260-726-8520 Email: elyse.bost@ysbjc.com
