Cuts to MCPS EML Therapeutic Counseling Team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be helpful to see caseload numbers over time to help people understand this request for support.

I would think data is available, the county is all about data

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be helpful to see caseload numbers over time to help people understand this request for support.

I would think data is available, the county is all about data

Snort

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This county wants to provide everything for everyone. This is a fantastic goal but completely unrealistic. We need to trim expenses- cutting these non essentials makes sense.

Based on their job classification this group of counselors has been around since the 80’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This county wants to provide everything for everyone. This is a fantastic goal but completely unrealistic. We need to trim expenses- cutting these non essentials makes sense.

If kids don't have the basics they cannot learn.

But MCPS goal is to provide an EDUCATION. Let MCPS focus on that and allow the County and they myriad of publicly funded non-profits to provide healthcare.

There is not a ton of health care. Call one of these places and try to get an appointment.

That is not MCPS' problem to fix. Take it up with your County Council. Maybe they can implement a higher bag tax to pay for better access to health care for undocumented EML students.

How interesting that you added the word undocumented?

How many of them are undocumented? Of course, that's interesting. And part of the discussion.

It is none of our business if children are documented or not. Services and instruction are available for all children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is MCPS required to provide medical care to students even outside school hours? I think we're asking too much from MCPS.

+1 this should really be funded outside of the MCPS budget. The county has mental health services, they should provide it.

Do you have insurance? Try to find a mental health provider that speaks Amharic? Not easy right? Now try to find the mental health support without insurance. This is why these positions are needed. Go on the MCPS website and look them up.

That still doesn’t mean it’s up to MCPS to provide. Which is exactly what school districts and everyone keeps trying to get folks to understand. Schools districts cannot continue to be the place where people go to for all services or help. It’s not their mission and they don’t have the funding. MCPS is not HHS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there any budget cuts that people will support? Some cuts are needed and some positions need to be cut. There is no way around it

This. And expect to see more cuts. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

They need to cut the central office staff.

Agree. I expect to see more cuts. Taylor needs to make the unpopular decisions of where to make budget cuts.

You mean he need to make the unpopular decision to make more cuts. The question is what would you advocate and support being cut?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is MCPS required to provide medical care to students even outside school hours? I think we're asking too much from MCPS.

+1 this should really be funded outside of the MCPS budget. The county has mental health services, they should provide it.

Do you have insurance? Try to find a mental health provider that speaks Amharic? Not easy right? Now try to find the mental health support without insurance. This is why these positions are needed. Go on the MCPS website and look them up.

That still doesn’t mean it’s up to MCPS to provide. Which is exactly what school districts and everyone keeps trying to get folks to understand. Schools districts cannot continue to be the place where people go to for all services or help. It’s not their mission and they don’t have the funding. MCPS is not HHS.

This is it exactly.

Based on MCPS' own data, MCPS is doing a craptastic job of educating our kids. Look at any set of test scores. MCPS needs to focus on EDUCATION. The budget needs to focus on education and the money needs to be used to things that very directly make an impact on that.

It is not MCPS' job to provide all these additional services to students and their families. This county has plenty of other agencies that can do that.

[Anonymous]

I think having a very specific and thoughtful MOU with the county's DHHS would be a good start. There should be an attempt to avoid duplication of services between MCPS and the county's social services. I think DHHS should be in charge of those services, with agreements for services to be provided in school buildings, like the wellness centers.

I also think we need to look at the proliferation of roles like Community School Liaison, Pupil Personnel Worker, Parent Community Coordinator, Wellness Trainer, and then the non-MCPS staff who are present in schools like Linkages to Learning. I am not saying these aren't dedicated people doing good things, but are they duplicating efforts? Can we combine responsibilities and reduce some of that staffing? I don't know the answer but think it needs to be explored.

[Anonymous]

Good riddance to the EML program. I am a social worker with the county and know 3 EMO counselors well there who do nothing and take advantage of being “out in the field” traveling in between schools or doing “home visits” but really they are not working and taking advantage of poor supervisory management. None of them are held accountable.

They are selfish and doing a disservice to our students. These funds are better placed elsewhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Think of them as case managers. If the children are hungry or do not have health are they less likely to succeed at school. If they are experiencing violence in their neighborhoods they are less likely to succeed at school. A lot of what these counselors do is connect the kids with community resources as well as being a sounding board. Imagine yourself at 11 or 12 coming to a country where you don't speak the language and not knowing where to go for help because you have no food. The counselors are bilingual or trilingual and trained to help these kids. It's not a huge expense for MCPS.

Sounds redundant with the role of a PPW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good riddance to the EML program. I am a social worker with the county and know 3 EMO counselors well there who do nothing and take advantage of being “out in the field” traveling in between schools or doing “home visits” but really they are not working and taking advantage of poor supervisory management. None of them are held accountable.

They are selfish and doing a disservice to our students. These funds are better placed elsewhere

I also work in the county and agree with you EXCEPT there are a handful of them that are excellent and I hate that they get lumped in with the duds. I hope they keep the good ones!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS cannot meet the needs of every student. The needs have grown so wide and so much is now expected of the schools.

The school where my children attend already has weekly free food markets, free eyeglasses, free medical care, free dentistry, free counseling, etc... And it's not enough. The kids still need more. Parents are no longer expected to take care of the basic needs for their children- that is now society's burden.

The problem is that most of this is not education and should not need to be provided by MCPS or our teachers. Wraparound services need to step up and MCPS needs to step down. And parents- what is expected of them? Of course it is hard if they chose to come to a new country. But that was a choice they made. The services are available in this county but they need to do their part to get it and stop expecting MCPS to provide everything.

+1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This county wants to provide everything for everyone. This is a fantastic goal but completely unrealistic. We need to trim expenses- cutting these non essentials makes sense.

If kids don't have the basics they cannot learn.

But MCPS goal is to provide an EDUCATION. Let MCPS focus on that and allow the County and they myriad of publicly funded non-profits to provide healthcare.

There is not a ton of health care. Call one of these places and try to get an appointment.

That is not MCPS' problem to fix. Take it up with your County Council. Maybe they can implement a higher bag tax to pay for better access to health care for undocumented EML students.

How interesting that you added the word undocumented?

How many of them are undocumented? Of course, that's interesting. And part of the discussion.

It is none of our business if children are documented or not. Services and instruction are available for all children

Services are not available to all kids. We were refused many times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS cannot meet the needs of every student. The needs have grown so wide and so much is now expected of the schools.

The school where my children attend already has weekly free food markets, free eyeglasses, free medical care, free dentistry, free counseling, etc... And it's not enough. The kids still need more. Parents are no longer expected to take care of the basic needs for their children- that is now society's burden.

The problem is that most of this is not education and should not need to be provided by MCPS or our teachers. Wraparound services need to step up and MCPS needs to step down. And parents- what is expected of them? Of course it is hard if they chose to come to a new country. But that was a choice they made. The services are available in this county but they need to do their part to get it and stop expecting MCPS to provide everything.

+1,000,000

Try making minimum wage and let us know how it works for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good riddance to the EML program. I am a social worker with the county and know 3 EMO counselors well there who do nothing and take advantage of being “out in the field” traveling in between schools or doing “home visits” but really they are not working and taking advantage of poor supervisory management. None of them are held accountable.

They are selfish and doing a disservice to our students. These funds are better placed elsewhere

Tons of corruption and fraud. Zero oversight.