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By Olin Ericksen
Staff Writer
February 8 -- Santa Monica and Malibu students are abusing
drugs and alcohol at higher levels and perceive them to be less
dangerous than their California peers. They also feel less safe
at school, and a well-documented achievement gap may be widening
for minority students.
These are among the key findings of a City-funded report assessing
the overall state of mental health and support services in the
local School District, a summary of which was released Tuesday
for the City Council.
While hard numbers will only be available if a full report by
the San Francisco-based West Ed Group is released, the consultants
concluded that district students have their strengths, but they
also face numerous risks.
The report – based on three years of city reports and district
data, 44 “key informant” interviews and nine focus
groups – found that students in the focus groups said they
had "concerns about safety and well being."
They also noted they "wanted more school-based mental health
services," but worried about "stigmatization and confidentiality."
Not all the findings were critical of the districts' mental health
services.
District students are "more connected," and "involved
in caring relationships at school," the study found.
They also showed more "resiliency" compared to state
standards, are involved in "more meaningful activities"
and "hold high expectations for themselves."
The report – which will be used to help determine funding
grants currently being considered by the City -- offers nearly
two dozen recommendations aimed at retooling the current state
of the mental health system in local schools to reach those who
need it most.
Some of the general suggestions include better collaboration
and coordination of services, increasing the quality and scope
of the services, providing better training for interns and incorporating
solid measurements.
Another recommendation calls for more culturally competent services
and counselors who are trained bilingually, a suggestion aimed
at reaching minority students who continue to struggle academically.
The well-documented achievement gap between minority students
and their white counterparts is also highlighted in the study,
which noted that "fewer African American and Hispanic/Latino
students met or exceeded state standards" at the elementary,
middle and high school levels.
The study also noted that 97 percent of Hispanic students and
80 percent of African-Americans attend Title I elementary schools,
which receive poverty funding and where "fewer students met
or exceed state standards," according to the summary.
Overall, Hispanic and African American students account for 40
percent of the enrollment in Title I elementary schools.
There has also been "an increase in the high school suspensions
over two years" for minority students, the researchers found.
Approximately $600,000 goes to six agencies that work in eight
schools in Santa Monica, including Dispute Resolution Services,
El Nido Family Services, Family Services of Santa Monica, Jewish
Family Services, Saint John's Child and Family Development Center
and WISE Senior Services' America Reads.
The groups and non-profits are expected to reapply for the grant
during the first six months of the year.
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