Independence 30 board approves $1.35 million Jackson County children’s services grant to add family-school liaisons

The Independence 30 Board of Education voted to accept Jackson County Children’s Services Fund support of $1,352,835 over two years to provide targeted comprehensive case management and social-emotional supports in district schools.

Nicole Squera, the district’s director of family services, told the board the funding will pay for seven additional secondary-level family-school liaisons who will work directly with students to build coping strategies, strengthen relationships and deliver evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing suspensions and time out of school. The program will also fund a district-wide Spanish-speaking case manager to ensure Spanish-speaking families have full access to services and to improve coordination between building-level FSLs and district staff.

Squera said services funded by the grant may include weekly support groups, individual case management and family engagement activities and that the fund’s support makes possible essential staffing, training and resources for those services. The board praised the work and approved the grant by voice vote.

Why it matters: The grant expands in-district capacity for prevention-oriented behavioral supports and family engagement, targeting students who need ongoing social-emotional and behavioral interventions. The contract continues positions funded by prior grants rather than creating totally new classifications, according to discussion at the meeting.

The board passed the grant approval without further amendment; staff will implement the program and report back on outcomes as appropriate.