DCSD’s Care Crew is Making Connections

DCSD’s Care Crew is Making Connections
Posted on 02/07/2024

The Home Visit Program is the creation of Angela Lange, Douglas County School District’s Dropout Reduction Specialist. Originally thought to be needed only during the pandemic to address the disconnect between students and in-person education, the Home Visit Program is still going strong today. 


During the 2020-2021 school year, the DCSD Student Assistance Department, in partnership with the DCSD Counseling Department DCSD Language, Culture and Equity Department, and the Parker Task Force, created a program called Care Crew to conduct home visits with students and families who are not engaging with education. Angela, along with staff counselors Evelyn Peterson and Jessica Zimmerman were an integral part of this. “Research and anecdotal evidence from other Denver Metro Area school districts showed that home visits from school staff dramatically increased engagement from families that had disengaged from their education,” said Lange. 

Home visits provide staff the opportunity to identify potential barriers that families may not otherwise open up about, allowing school staff to connect families with other district or community resources to address their specific needs. By addressing potential external barriers, students and families are able to then successfully engage in education.

Over the four years that Care Crew has existed, 535 DCSD families have been visited, and an average of 72% of students improved engagement in school - and parents have noticed.

 “I am totally blown away that you showed up at my house to check on my son today. You are awesome! We talked and I feel like we got a little bit closer with where we need him to be. Thank you again, and I am truly grateful,” said a parent. 

Currently, qualified staff are approved to be a part of Care Crew after completing training.  As of January 2024,16 of DSCD’s schools are trained and actively participating in this program. 

For more information on Care Crew, contact Angela Lange at [email protected]

 

Look for more DCSD school counselor stories as we celebrate National School Counselor Week.
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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

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Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).