Academic Support and Federal Programs Item

DATE:	Tuesday, October 20, 2020
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	Addison Davis, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
<p>Approve the Master Services Agreement between The School Board of Hillsborough County, Florida and Progressus Therapy (Progressus) to Implement the INVO Multidisciplinary Program (<em>Climate and Culture</em>)</p>
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
<p>Progressus is an educational firm dedicated to serving children through a variety of services. Progressus specializes in providing occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech and language pathology, audiology, mental and behavioral health counseling, psychology, behavior analysis, social work, sign language and interpretation, school nursing, special instruction, and paraprofessional service providers to infants, toddlers, and school-aged children with various developmental delays.</p> <p>Specifically, in terms of this agreement, Progressus will work with the District to implement the INVO Multidisciplinary Program to Address Childhood Trauma (IMPACT). The IMPACT program is designed to provide the requisite level of comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to students who are at-risk for or who are dealing with mental health conditions including students with disabilities. Many of these conditions are rooted in elevated numbers of adverse childhood experiences (ACE): emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, parent separation/divorce, witness to domestic violence, mental illness, incarceration, death of family members, and substance abuse.</p> <p>The IMPACT program will be delivered by qualified mental health professionals hired by Progressus who receive training and/or certification as a registered behavior technician, licensed clinical social workers, licensed or master's level mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and board-certified behavior analysts. IMPACT clinicians provide the children with intense, regular support to eradicate or manage the barriers that impede academic progress and performance and, often lead to truancy and behavior problems both in and out of school. The district will identify targeted schools based on mental health data collection and student to mental health professional recommended ratios. Given the challenges and uncertainty around COVID-19 and school openings, services are currently being provided 100 percent via telehealth. Per reopening plans of the District, clinicians are prepared to resume in-person supports as soon as the District deems appropriate. Once Progressus staff are able to return to a physical school setting, services will be delivered in the students' existing school(s) with sessions via telehealth and at home on a case-by-case basis. Implementation planning and delivery of mental health and behavior services will be initiated during the terms of the agreement of October 21, 2020, through June 30, 2022.</p>
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
<p>• Improve the high school graduation rate</p> <p>• Provide a student-centered learning environment that engages every child</p> <p>• Improve Student Achievement</p> <p>• Engage and communicate with families and stakeholders</p> <p>• Continuously improve processes and systems</p> <p>• Demonstrate "best practices" in all aspects of safety: student, employee, visitor, facility, transportation, and health</p>
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
EVALUATION
SUBMITTED BY:  Elizabeth Tanner, Supervisor, Emotional Wellness, elizabeth.tanner@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 273-7192 Holly Saia, Ed.S., General Director, Student Services, holly.saia@sdhc.k12.fl.us, (813) 273-7136 Tracye H. Brown, Chief of Climate and Culture, tracye.brown@hcps.net, (813) 272-4879

		Gretchen Saunders
		Chief Financial Officer (813) 272-4270
		C 6.02
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20201020_1012 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 6.02