Intervention & Support

Amy Poochigian

Intervention Counselor

amy_poochigan@kernhigh.org

Wesley Davis III

Intervention Specialist

wesdavis@kernhigh.org

Bill Chase

Substance Abuse Specialist

bill_chase@kernhigh.org

Stephanee Holmes

School Social Worker

stephanee_holmes@kernhigh.org

Mrs. Holmes' Canvas page

Tier 1 Interventions and Supports

Counselors are able to provide a variety of mental health and family support resources, based on factors such as the student’s specific need, family insurance, etc. Counselors are here to support ALL students with personal, social, and mental health concerns. Outside resources are available to all, as well as academic support provided by each teacher. However, sometimes students need extra support in order to reach their full potential.

Tier 2 Interventions and Supports

Tier 2 Interventions and Supports are designed for the 10-15% of students who are not responding effectively to the Universal Supports in Tier 1 of the school. These students need more intensive interventions to teach skills not taught in Tier 1. The interventions in Tier 2 are designed to be assessed quickly, highly efficient, flexible, and to bring about rapid movement. The goal of Tier 2 is to teach skills that aren’t addressed by Tier 1 using a short-term intervention.

Sources for Identifying Students for Tier 2 Supports

Foothill High Counselors and Intervention Team use a variety of sources to help identify students who are appropriate for Tier 2 services.

Student Referral: Students may self refer to Tier 2 using the intervention referral link.

Parent Referral: Parents may also refer their student using the intervention referral link.

Other Sources: The purpose of the screening tools and/or strategies is to accurately identify students in need of Tier 2 supports prior to the student failing and/or disengaging from instruction. Other sources of information that are useful in determining which students may be in need of additional support include: health office logs, attendance, Office Discipline Referrals, staff requests.

Tier 2 Interventions may include:

  • Mentoring

  • Family Engagement/ Home Visits

  • Grade/Attendance Checks

  • Check In-Check Out (CICO)

  • Restorative Circles/Practices

  • Small Groups

      • Substance Abuse

      • Coping Skills

      • Anxiety

      • Grief Group

      • Social Skills

Tier 3 Interventions and Supports:

  • If a student is not making progress in Tier 2 services or is in crisis, student will be referred to Tier 3 services, such as:

  1. Case Management and Linkage

    1. Referring student to mental health services with Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services or private insurance and following up.

  2. Crisis Assessment and Intervention

    1. Conducting suicide assessments

    2. Re-entry plan when student returns back to school from Mary K Shell or Bakersfield Behavioral Health Hospital (BBHH).

  3. Direct Therapeutic Interventions with Tier 3 Students

    1. Provide/teach coping skills to help them in the classroom

    2. Facilitate small Tier 3 focused groups (for those needing more support after Tier 2 groups)

Copy of Self Care 5.mp4

School Social Workers from the Kern High School District put this video together on ways that they partake in self-care. We hope this video gives you ideas on different ways that you can utilize coping skills to help you!