Pathways to Peace Launches Proactive, Case-Management Outreach Model in RCSD Schools
Pathways to Peace School-based outreach team has launched a new proactive, case-management outreach model in Rochester schools that will improve its ability to help students stay safe, find emotional support and be successful learners throughout the school year.
“The vast majority of Rochester’s children and people are going to have a great school year and show up on the first day of school with smiles on their faces and excitement in their hearts,” Mayor Malik D. Evans said. “But far too many are still experiencing the aftershocks of the pandemic and are calling out for help by making bad decisions. This new outreach model is the next step in our ongoing progress to answer that call.”
Upon taking Office in 2022, Evans began to expand the Pathways to Peace violence-prevention and -intervention team to include a school-based outreach team. Members of the team work in City schools during the school year and provide mentoring and counseling services that can help students avoid violence or encounters with law enforcement.
Under the new model, the school-based team will designate a small number of students in each school who exhibit the greatest need for their support and provide services both in and out of school.
Those services include:
Ensure regular school attendance: Monitor attendance records and provide support to encourage consistent attendance.
Conduct home visits: Visit students' homes to connect with families and address barriers to academic success.
Facilitate workshops: Utilize evidence-based programs like Project Lead the Way, which focuses on leadership development, conflict resolution, and community engagement, to equip students with essential life skills.
Advocate for students: Represent students' interests and advocate for their needs in school meetings and other settings.
Connect with parents: Maintain open communication with parents and guardians to discuss student progress and address concerns.
Collaborate with school staff: Work closely with teachers, counselors, and administrators to develop comprehensive support plans for students.
Pathways to Peace is just one of the many services the City offers youth and families through the Department of Recreation and Human Services (DRHS). City's R-Centers offers a wide range of free programs, including traditional sports and athletic programs, academic enrichment programs, life-skills training, leadership development and nature exploration.
The City will also continue to offer Social Emotional Health and Wellness services with certified mental health counselors at four R-Centers. To learn more about these programs, or to register as an R-Center member, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/r-central.
The DRHS Office of Crisis Intervention Services also provides services to help families and young people better cope with trauma, including the Person in Crisis (PIC) mobile-response team. To request a visit from the PIC team, call 988.
The City has also contracted with BreatheDeep, a non-profit restorative wellness agency, to provide counseling services to DRHS staff and help them learn more about the effects of trauma.
See below, the attached one-sheet prepared by BreatheDeep on recognizing the warning signs of violence and trauma in others.
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