VCS Social Services Newsletter

As we enter the busy weeks of April and May and wrap up the 2022-23 school year, remember that your Social Services Team is here to help.

We have compiled some resources that you may be interested in for the summer. If you have a need that you don't see listed, please reach out to your building social services team member.

The contact information for our team can be accessed with the button below. After the last day of school on May 25, please reach out to the following individuals if you need social services assistance.

Dr. Erin Hawkins, Director of Social Emotional Learning

ehawkins@valpo.k12.in.us or 219-531-3000 ext. 5306

Laura Peart, Behavior Specialist

lpeart@valpo.k12.in.us or 219-531-3160 ext. 3308

Kate Longoria, Behavior Specialist

klongoria@valpo.k12.in.us or 219-531-3140 ext 6325

If your family lives in any of the following housing situations, your school age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

• In a shelter
• In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
• In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
• Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

If you are experiencing housing insecurity like the situations listed above, we may be able to provide some resources related to transportation, summer activities, and more.

If you could benefit from such support, please reach out to your school social worker or Dr. Erin Hawkins at 219-531-3000 ext. 5306 or ehawkins@valpo.k12.in.us.

Dressed for School is a non-profit organization that aims to help elementary students who are in need of new, quality clothing, at no cost, in a shopping environment. Dressed for School collaborated with the VCS elementary schools to sponsor another clothing distribution in early April.

If you children are in need of clothing but you missed this event, contact Dressed for School via email at dressedforschoolvalpo@gmail.com or click here to visit their website.

With summer quickly approaching, the VCS Social Service Team wants to ensure everyone in our community has access to all the wonderful resources Valparaiso and Porter County have to offer! The following are several links to commonly used resources.

VCS School Nutrition

Free breakfast and lunch will be served at Thomas Jefferson Middle School while summer school is in session to any VCS student (even if not attending summer school). The dates are May 30 - June 16 and July 10 - 27. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 am - 7:30 am and lunch is served from 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm. This and other information will be available soon on the school nutrition website.

VCS School Nutrition

Food Pantries:

Porter County Community Resource Guide

Food Bank Of Northwest Indiana

Food Pantries

NWI Food Bank Mobile Food Markets:

Click here for schedule and locations.

Bring State Issued Identification

Resources Offered in Porter County Including Food Pantry Listings:

Porter County Resource Roundup

Home Repair Needs

Are you in need of a home repair that is financially prohibitive? Visit the Home Team Valpo website to learn more about how they can help and to apply for assistance. https://hometeamvalpo.org/

Indiana 211 Resource Link:

https://in211.communityos.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness:

https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Family-Members-and-Caregivers

Finding a Mental Health Professional Resource:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us

Emergency Contacts

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: call 9-8-8

Suicide Prevention: text “start” to 678678

Crisis Text Line: text “IN” to 741741

Porter Starke Services: call 219-531-3500

Valparaiso Police Department Non-Emergency: call 219-462-2135

Emergency Services: 911

Looking for something to keep your child(ren) busy this summer? There are many exciting things happening for students in our community. If you need assistance in learning about or accessing opportunities, please reach out to the social services team member at your child's school.

If you have a child ready to begin kindergarten and have not already been in contact with their school, visit the Kindergarten at VCS website for information. If you would like to talk to the social services team member about your student, please don't hesitate to contact your school.

Fifth graders will be visiting the middle schools in early May. Look for more information to come directly from your student's school. In addition, the middle school social workers try to visit each elementary in order to answer more specific questions students may have.

One big way to alleviate nerves and prepare your student for the transition is to practice opening a combination lock. It's also helpful to talk through an organization plan since they will be using multiple folders and binders and changing classes. Finally, look for information from the middle schools toward the end of summer about the 6th grade orientation day and for times when you can visit the school, find and try their locker, and walk their schedule.

Our goal is to make every student's transition as smooth as possible! Teachers and staff will work with all 6th graders to ensure they are supported and have a smooth transition.

If you have an incoming freshman, please watch your email this summer for information about when schedules will be available, when you can visit the building to find their locker and walk their schedule, and the date and time of orientation.

Congratulations to all of our 2023 graduates and your families! We're proud of you and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.