SCIP at BMS
Submitted by Betsy Spilker
by Stacy Sykes
SCIP
www.lmep.com
Did you know that the School Community Intervention Program (SCIP)
has been an integral part of schools for twenty-five years? It
began in four Lincoln Public High Schools in the fall of 1983. In
1985, SCIP expanded to middle schools, some schools in Region V,
and non-public schools. Elementary schools began implementing SCIP
in 1987 and the program continued to spread to schools across
Nebraska. SCIP is a confidential process to help identify students
having difficulties being successful in school. While the original
model of SCIP training remains constant, new presentations and
topics are added to the annual SCIP training each summer, just as
new issues arise for SCIP Teams in schools to address with their
students.
One significant change for SCIP that many people don’t realize is that SCIP is available in schools to help students who may be experiencing difficulties not only related to drug and alcohol use, but also to students whose difficulties at school may stem from mental or behavioral health concerns.
SCIP has cooperative agreements with community agencies across
the state to provide screenings at no charge for SCIP referrals.
This provides schools with resources to offer families that allow
community professionals in the fields of substance abuse and
mental/behavioral health to assess what kinds of issues may be
affecting a student and what kinds of services are available to
help that family address those concerns. It takes schools out of
the role of having to
diagnose a student, but allows the school to express care and
concern when issues arise at school, and gives support to
parents.
The members of Beatrice Middle School’s SCIP team are:
Betsy Spilker, SCIP team leader,
school counselor
Amy Randel, school counselor
Missy Mahoney, 8E Math Teacher
Jen Townley, 7N Social Studies Teacher
Pam Hennings, 6N Science Teacher
Peggy Snurr, 8th grade Resource Teacher
Shannon Kleveland, school nurse
Please contact any of the SCIP team members if you have question or concerns we can help with.
