By Lori Ehde
Teachers are often aware of students who are struggling, but they don't always have the resources to adequately help them.
Help is on the way, thanks to a new program approved by Luverne School Board members at their Thursday, Aug. 23, meeting.
Child Guide is designed to connect students with positive things in their communities.
"All these assets are in your communities, but the problem is children aren't connected to all these good things," said program presenter Marlyn Benson, of the Southwest-West Central Service Cooperative.
"We needed to find a way to connect children to all these good things. That's what Child Guide is all about. We don't provide the assets; we connect kids to programs and programs to kids."
In school districts that use Child Guide, teachers and staff are asked to keep their eyes open for students who may be struggling - either from problems at home or with their peers.
Child Guide doesn't do the work of a school psychologist or counselor but works on referrals from them.
Help is often as simple as a cheery greeting to a student in the morning or offering special praise for a minor accomplishment.
"We'll do the things you'd like to do but don't really have the time or energy to do," Benson said.
In many cases, students' self-confidence can benefit from involvement in 4-H or Scouts, but parents don't have the time or funds to enroll the child - or don't see the need.
In that case, a Child Guide representative might make a friendly contact with the parents about the advantages of involving the child in a certain activity.
If costs or transportation are an issue, Child Guide might connect the family with local sources of revenue or with volunteers to drive or carpool.
Elementary Principal Melody Tenhoff embraced the idea. "It's a wonderful opportunity," she said.
"In my 17 years in education, it's always been a problem: You do good stuff for kids, but the kids who really need it aren't there."
Child Guide came about when the Legislature took aim at reducing juvenile corrections costs. It asked the Southwest-West Central Service Co-operative to design a program to help kids before they get into trouble.
The co-operative and Southwest Minnesota Foundation developed Child Guide as a result.
After piloting the program for six years in the Willmar School District, Kandiyohi County Family Services reported a noticeable decrease in juvenile-related caseloads.
In Rock County, Child Guide will be funded through the Southwest Minnesota Foundation, McVay Foundation, Rock County Collaborative and possibly Blandin Foundation.
No district funds will be spent on the project. Child Guide representatives will be employees of the Service Co-operative. All the district is asked to do is provide part-time desk space.
With the board's approval Thursday, Child Guide will be implemented in Luverne schools immeditately.