CJMS Success Story – February 2008

Carlson is a sixth grade student at Chief Joseph Middle School. He is extremely bright, but has been identified as having a language-based learning disability, and struggles with social situations, particularly with peers. Last fall Carlson and his father, Ed, faced a challenging transition from a small elementary school to the larger middle school and looked to the Parent Liaison for assistance.

As an involved and caring parent, Ed had formed a very positive relationship with the staff at the small elementary school that his son had attended from Kindergarten through fifth grade. Ed regularly took advantage of the ability to volunteer in the school and especially appreciated the consideration that the teachers and principal had for Carlson’s unique abilities and struggles.

Ed, like most parents, was nervous about Carlson’s ability successfully make the change to the large middle school. At this time, the Parent Liaison made a welcome call to the family. Ed shared his concern about Carlson’s ability to make friends and to transition from class to class during the school day. Ed decided to come in with Carlson every school morning, to help him open his locker and to bring up to the teachers any concerns or issues about Carlson as they came up. Ed was also looking for opportunities to stay involved in his son’s education, but felt that the teachers at the middle school did not allow for such involvement.

The beginning of the year was characterized by frustration: the teachers were frustrated by what they perceived as Ed’s “over involvement” and Ed was frustrated by what he felt was a lack of appreciation for Carlson’s difficulties. During this time, the Parent Liaison continued to offer Ed emotional support and help with problem solving. The Parent Liaison also spoke with Carlson’s teachers and discovered all the ways that they were accommodating and assisting Carlson. The Parent Liaison brought this information to Ed. We also worked together with the CAP coordinator to find a mentor with a similar personality as Carlson’s. Over time, Ed began to feel more supported and more and more like the school appreciated Carlson’s uniqueness.

The Parent Liaison recently checked in with Ed to see how things were going. Ed stated that the school was doing well at finding niches for Carlson to fill. When asked how he thought the first year in middle school went, Ed proclaimed that it was going very well, in fact, he said, it was “far better than imagined”.

Kristina Allison,
Chief Joseph Middle School Parent Liaison

Karen, Jimmy and Jennifer

As any parent of teenagers knows, there are many challenges involved in raising successful teens. For Karen, those typical challenges were just the tip of the iceberg. Karen was new to Bozeman and was dealing with becoming a newly single mom with few resources. Her two children, Jennifer, now a sophomore at Bozeman High School and Jimmy, now an 8th grader at Chief Joseph, were having some difficulty dealing with a new school and the challenges facing their everyday life.

Jimmy was referred into the CAP mentoring program at Chief Joseph to help him adjust to his school. That initial contact introduced Karen to Thrive, and led Karen to meet Kristina Allison, the Parent Liaison at Chief Joseph Middle School. Karen credits the Parent Liaison program of Thrive with helping her and her children get on track. Karen is now a full-time student at MSU, and Jimmy and Jennifer are doing well (despite Jimmy’s recent elbow injury from skateboarding!)

Kristina helped to connect Karen with many community resources, from those providing monetary assistance for life’s basics, to sports and school bus scholarships. Karen feels that it is really important as a single mom to be able to connect with resources that help her feel less isolated. She was great about seeking help when she needed it. In fact, Kristina believes this is one of Karen’s greatest strengths as a parent. In Kristina’s word, “She really takes advantage of the programs that are available to her and her family.”

Kristina’s help coordinating meetings with the children’s teachers was another crucial link for Karen. As Karen says, “she kept us all connected.” This support greatly increased the quality of her interactions with the school. Karen reports that she has a better rapport with her children and their teachers.

The best way to sum up what the Parent Liaison program means to Karen is in her own words:

“Most importantly, Kristina reached out to me to not only get me help when I needed it, but also reminded me of my strengths and accomplishments as a single parent, where I may have otherwise failed to see. She checks in with me almost weekly and it’s been the one thing that I feel has helped me make better choices and become a better parent.”

The Parent Liaison Program encourages a strong link between home and school so parents and teachers become partners in children’s success. Each Bozeman elementary and middle school has a Parent Liaison. Contact Thrive at 587-3840 if you would like to work with the Parent Liaison at your child’s school.

Kathy, Johnny and Kara

As any parent of teenagers knows, there are many challenges involved in raising successful teens. For Kathy, those typical challenges were just the tip of the iceberg. Kathy was new to Bozeman and was dealing with becoming a newly single mom with few resources. Her two children, Kara, now a sophomore at Bozeman High School and JOHNNY, now an 8th grader at Chief Joseph, were having some difficulty dealing with a new school and the challenges facing their everyday life.

JOHNNY was referred into the CAP mentoring program at Chief Joseph to help him adjust to his school. That initial contact introduced Kathy to Thrive, and led Kathy to meet Kristina Allison, the Parent Liaison at Chief Joseph Middle School. Kathy credits the Parent Liaison program of Thrive with helping her and her children get on track. Kathy is now a full-time student at MSU, and JOHNNY and Kara are doing well (despite JOHNNY’s recent elbow injury from skateboarding!)

Kristina helped to connect Kathy with many community resources, from those providing monetary assistance for life’s basics, to sports and school bus scholarships. Kathy feels that it is really important as a single mom to be able to connect with resources that help her feel less isolated. She was great about seeking help when she needed it. In fact, Kristina believes this is one of Kathy’s greatest strengths as a parent. In Kristina’s word, “She really takes advantage of the programs that are available to her and her family.”

Kristina’s help coordinating meetings with the children’s teachers was another crucial link for Kathy. As Kathy says, “she kept us all connected.” This support greatly increased the quality of her interactions with the school. Kathy reports that she has a better rapport with her children and their teachers.

The best way to sum up what the Parent Liaison program means to Kathy is in her own words: “Most importantly, Kristina reached out to me to not only get me help when I needed it, but also reminded me of my strengths and accomplishments as a single parent, where I may have otherwise failed to see. She checks in with me almost weekly and it’s been the one thing that I feel has helped me make better choices and become a better parent.”

Single Dad’s Email to Parent Liaison

Hi (Parent Laison’s Name),

As you know parenting is not to be taken lightly. I am a divorced male who moved to Montana around 8 months ago. I have a 13 year old son of whom I was suppose to get full custody in 2007, but due to a problem with my ex wife’s pregnancy she had to leave the state and I took full custody of my son. I had always been there for him even though his mother and I were apart. Boy scouts, baseball, soccer and what not.

Being a full time single parent was something that you hear about but don’t appreciate until it happens to you. I am generally a confident person but no-one wants to fail at being the “Best” at parenting. Heck, just being a parent is hard especially of a 13 year old boy. He just moved to Montana from Southern California, his mother, brother and step sister all had to leave Montana, to go back to California, and to top it all off he has ADHD. Now imagine what this 13 year old was going through, more than many his age. Now imagine being the parent who loves this kid so much and wants the best for him and yet has many insecurities. The common thought process every night while lying in bed, “Am I doing enough?” “I can’t fail him, and especially not on my shift”. I work 2.5 jobs and need to now concentrate on being there for him. I am so alone and who can I speak to about this? Am I doing all I can?

My sons school counselor introduced me to someone who I can ask all these questions to and get feedback from, my Parent Liaison with Thrive. I first spoke to her not exactly knowing what to expect. She was very easy to talk to and in a very short time I opened up to her with all my questions. She listened and was caring and careful about her feedback. She helped me set up parent/teacher meetings and called and the right times to follow up as I am so busy. Honestly, I dropped everything to speak with her, for I really needed to hear some more insight. She gave me the courage to carry on. She told me that I was a good parent. I was so proud of myself, thanks to her. This gave me the confidence to be the parent and nurture my son in the way I know I could. I was actually doing it right. I called his mother and said, guess that even with all our son’s issues he has a parent who will be there and guide him and, do you know what? I am doing a great job! She said with confidence in her voice..”Of course you are, I always knew you would, that’s why I left him in your hands who else can he trust”. Wow!!!

Thanks Parent Liaison, for all you do in your chosen career. This email goes out to all of you who help us parents who are bringing up our children of tomorrow. God Bless.