Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
In-Service Descriptions
2010-2011

Each Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. member district/school may select up to 5 free on site in service trainings, to be presented at the district/school site. Twelve in-service workshops are available this school year. 

An Act Relative to Bullying – How This Legislation Impacts Our Schools

Massachusetts has a new bullying bill! This in service training helps school districts prepare for and implement this mandate. The law is reviewed, with an emphasis on when bullying, which is prohibited but not a crime, becomes criminal. An emphasis on the cyber component of bullying is explored. Additionally, this training outlines when off campus behavior creates a hostile environment at school, infringes on students’ rights and/or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Suggestions of strategies to prevent bullying and protect targets from aggressors will be given. This in service training supports Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s continuing school safety initiatives.A Bullying & Cyber Bullying: Prevention in Schools and Communities in service training is also available for parents and community members. A minimum of 25 participants is needed. 

Cyber Safety

The internet, cell phones and social networking sites offer powerful and almost limitless opportunities to gain knowledge and make contact with others. When used appropriately, it is a powerful and positive tool. However, there are many pitfalls and risks to young people. Effective prevention and intervention strategies for school staff and parents will be presented. The capabilities of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office Cyber Protection Program, created in 2007 by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone will also be outlined. Cyber safety will be the featured topic for the annual PSA Project this year. Please see the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. website for details.A Cyber Safety in the Home and Community is also available for parents and community members. Please note that a minimum of 25 participants is needed.  

Protecting Children & Youth: 51 A Mandated Reporting

Training in the 51A process is now mandatory for all licensed school staff working with students. In order to facilitate training large numbers of staff, the Child Abuse Unit at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has created a free online training. All that participants need is internet access to use this user friendly training. This training is available at www.middlesexcac.org/51a-omrtThis training outlines indicators of abuse and/or neglect and explains what to do if a mandated reporter suspects child abuse or neglect. The legal process regarding 51A mandated reporting is explained. The Child Abuse Unit is part of the Family Protection Bureau reorganized by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone in 2007.Representatives of the Child Abuse Unit at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office continue to be available for site based in service trainings. 

Choices, Consequences and Judgment

This year, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone selected “Judgment” as his school-based focus because using judgment permeates every aspect of how students may chose to engage in risky, unsafe and/or unhealthy behavior. We all make choices and bear the consequences of these choices on a daily basis. This in service will give insight about how to foster judgment skills at the different developmental levels of our school-aged students. It will also help us to be reflective about our own practices and how our choices as professionals may impact students. 

Alcohol & Drug Use

Alcohol and drug use by teens continues to be a major issue. Last year, the Middlesex District Attorney’s PSA Project focused on impaired driving as the topic. The winning PSA may be seen on the Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. website.While street drugs are readily available in many communities, a majority of teen drug users easily obtain over-the-counter or prescription medications from a variety of sources, including their family’s medicine cabinet. Use of inhalants and steroids is also discussed. Signs and symptoms of substance use and abuse is also detailed.Social and health-related consequences of alcohol and drug use by teens can be severe and far reaching.Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone is an active prevention participant in this important area. He frequently speaks to students during prom and graduation season,Alcohol & Drug Use for Parents is also available. All in service trainings require a minimum of 25 participants. 

Social Host Liability

This in service training is offered for parents and community members. This training is aimed at giving parents the most up to date information as to the legal, social and health-related consequences of serving minors alcohol. Particularly during prom and graduation season, parents need to understand their personal liability if minors are drinking in their home, even without their knowledge or approval. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s efforts in collaboration with school districts during prom and graduation season will also be discussed. 

Improving Attendance & Truancy

This training focuses on the importance of intervening early when students, especially in elementary school, show a pattern of missing school or arriving late. The dynamics of why some students have difficulty coming to school in a timely manner will be discussed, along with strategies to intervene with the families to foster communication and collaboration on the common goal of having the student attend school. Legal avenues including the Failure to Send law and the Child in Need of Services (CHINS) process will be explained, along with how to successfully partner with the courts and social service agencies. 

Teen Dating Violence

When 19-year old singer and song writer Chris Brown allegedly beat his 20-year old girlfriend Rihanna, many were shocked. Even more surprising was a survey done by the Boston Public Commission which indicated that 46% of the students surveyed blamed Rihanna for the incident. Also, the survey with 200 students aged 12 to 19 revealed that 44% believed that fighting was normal in a relationship. This in-service training explores this phenomenon and also features the Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest sponsored by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. in 2009.  

Family & Relationship Violence

Living with violence at home or in a personal relationship interferes with a student’s ability to learn, as well as causes serious behavioral and social problems. Long term, it increase the risk of either becoming a victim or perpetrator. This in-service will help participants understand where domestic and dating violence comes from, how it happens, what the crimes are and the necessity of safety plans. The implications for schools are emphasized in this training. Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s initiatives to prevent and combat domestic violence will also be discussed. 

Gangs in Our Communities

A growing concern about gangs, gang activity and gang behavior has emerged in many communities. This training highlights the trademarks (colors, signs, graffiti and tagging) of various national and local gangs and explains how they recruit and retain members. Organizational structure of gangs and their impact on communities will be presented in this workshop. Gang prevention strategies including alternative community affiliations will be explored. This in-service is made possible, in part, from a previous Project Safe Neighborhood grant awarded to Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone’s office. The Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit spearheads this presentation. 

Guns, Drugs & Contraband: School Search & Seizure

Under what circumstances do school officials have a legal right to search and/or seize?  For schools to be safe, they must be free from weapons and other contraband. This in-service training clarifies the role of the schools vs. the role of the police. The goal of the training is to promote school safety, reduce liability, and ensure that searches can be upheld in court.  This in-service was made possible, from a previous Project Safe Neighborhood grant awarded to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. 

Emergency Preparedness

Does your school district/community have a plan should there be a natural disaster or terrorist attack? Is this plan well articulated and clearly understood by all constituents? Has your community held drills with opportunities for integrating police and fire personnel? Do all your schools have well stocked emergency kits?  The best approach to emergencies in communities and schools are based on effective collaboration between agencies.  This individualized training addresses these important considerations for emergency preparedness, including table top exercises. This in-service supports District Attorney Gerry Leone’s SECURE (Safe Effective Community Understanding and Response to Emergencies) initiative.

This in-service is only offered within school districts, please contact Margie Daniels at 781 897-6808 to arrange this in-service.  

 Please Contact - Nina Pomponio at 781-897-6806 to request in-services or email her at nina.pomponio@state.ma.us. There is also a registration form on page 8.  

Please Note - There will be a $50 charge for staff from non-member districts to attend.