California Integrated Supports Project (CA-ISP) Grant Lead
The
California Department of Education (CDE) has awarded a total of $12.5 million
in funds to four California education agencies, including the Placer County
Office of Education (PCOE) which will act as the grant lead.
Now titled the California Integrated Supports Project (CA-ISP), funding is
being utilized to enhance existing programs in education through five areas of
focus: Identity, Supportive Environment, Voice, Situational Appropriateness and
Data for Equity. As the grant lead, PCOE has begun to create and collect
resources for instructors throughout California which will increase positive
student outcomes through feedback and ongoing support.
Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI)
The Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) is a statewide effort to improve access to mental health and wellness services for children and teens. It focuses on prevention, and meeting youth where they are—often at school. In Placer County, where the youth suicide rate is the highest in California, CYBHI provides vital resources to address this crisis and create a supportive environment for students’ emotional and mental well-being.
CYBHI builds on programs that schools and communities already use to support students. This helps bring new resources and tools into schools in a way that fits with what is already working. The program focuses on helping kids early when they start to show signs of mental health struggles and giving teachers, families, and students simple tools to handle stress and support mental well-being.
The Placer County Office of Education is actively engaged in learning and providing valuable feedback to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as part of the first cohort of the CYBHI. Through our participation in a collaborative learning environment, we aim to inform state-level policy and operational guidance for the CYBHI fee schedule program, ensuring that the needs of Placer County are effectively met.
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Community Schools Partnership Program
What is a Community School?
A Community School is any school serving pre-Kindergarten through high school students using a “whole-child” approach, with “an integrated focus on academics, health and social services, youth and community development, and community engagement." As a school improvement strategy, community school initiatives enable the local educational agency (LEA) and school to work closely with educators, students, and families to understand and address the school community's unique needs, assets, and aspirations.
In November 2022, the California State Board of Education approved the Capitol Area Regional Transformational Assistance Center (R-TAC), co-led by the Sacramento and Placer County Offices of Education, to support schools and districts that opt into the California Community Schools Partnership Program. Participation in this program is voluntary and begins only after a local school district makes the decision to join. Once a district chooses to participate, PCOE provides assistance by offering technical guidance, sharing best practices, and helping schools implement strategies that align with locally approved priorities and community needs.
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Fostering Opportunity for All
Equity has been important to the Placer County Office of Education for several years. Student Services staff have engaged in implicit
bias training and focused specific efforts on reducing disciplinary referrals
for Latino students in our programs. We have offered, and continue to offer,
professional development focused on equity. Our differentiated assistance
and support team works alongside districts to identify and remedy areas of disproportionality. The Placer County Special Education Planning Area (SELPA) support includes training and tools to support inclusion. Additionally, our Early Childhood Education division has
worked hard on diversity, equity and inclusion for our youngest learners.
The Placer County Office of Education is committed to
supporting district and school leaders, teachers, families and other
stakeholders so that all students have equitable learning opportunities. We
are committed to advancing educational equity by building and supporting
equitable experiences in our schools, taking a closer look at the causes of
achievement gaps, and working to reduce those gaps so that all students achieve
excellence.
Geographic Lead for County Office Differentiated Assistance to Districts
The
Placer County Office of Education is the co-lead for 13 counties to
coordinate a systemic approach to support all county offices so they can
support their local districts regardless of size and geographic
location. The initiative is focused on utilizing the strengths of county
offices, coordinating the training and transfer of expertise, and
collecting and evaluating data so all counties can provide timely and
differentiated supports to local school districts regardless of size and
geographic location.
Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports (PBIS)
Placer
County Office of Education is the leader in providing PBIS training and
coaching services to county offices and districts. PCOE coordinates the California PBIS organization and coordinates the California PBIS
Conference.
School-Based Behavioral Health Collaboration
This initiative is a collective effort with Placer County, Tulare County, Humboldt County and San Bernardino County to integrate behavioral health services in school settings to support access to mental health services in schools and to promote a positive school climate.
