Workshop 4 - The New School Refusal - Logged on or Logged Off, but Still Checked Out: Managing Chronic School Disengagement During COVID-19

The initial, ongoing, and returning spread of COVID-19 has forced substantial changes in all domains of life. Perhaps no domain of life has been impacted as much as the schooling and education of our youth. Schools have had to make difficult and creative decisions to meet the demands of an ever-evolving health climate and uncertain information about risk, protections, and community preferences. Even with increasing vaccination rates and tentative returns to “normality,” school attendance, student engagement, and student supports require continued and thoughtful reconceptualization. How is attendance conceptualized in remote, in-person, and hybrid formats? How is engagement monitored and encouraged in each variation? How does this context resemble other traumatized contexts? How has this pandemic disproportionately impacted under-resourced school districts in communities of color? Drawing from examples and data across the United States and the state of New Jersey, this webinar will discuss models (e.g., the National Association of School Psychologists, COVID-19 School Adjustment Risk Matrix) for identifying students at risk for emotional distress and discuss their relevance for school attendance and engagement. The workshop will focus on illustrating established CBT interventions/strategies, adapted to this new context. An additional focus will help attendees consider engagement as a key outcome beyond school/classroom attendance. Multiple case studies will be presented and attendees will work in small groups to offer solutions. Attendees may also bring local examples for group consultation. Presenters will moderate a discussion of effective interventions and help attendees tailor established interventions to their local contexts. This workshop is designed for clinicians with moderate direct clinical experience conducting CBT with school-aged youth or consulting with schools.

Outline:

Appearance of School attendance, school refusal, and school engagement in context of ongoing management of COVID-19.
Describe NASPs system for identifying at-risk students, making use of school and home environments.
Review effective strategies for addressing school attendance problems and poor engagement.
Functional Analytic Approach, motivational interviewing.
Working with parents: daily renewable reward.
Coordinating with schools: active collaboration.
Practice role-plays using prepared vignettes.
Consultation of cases from audience.