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Sue Peacock and Alison Leversha from ADHB CYMRG review deaths of children and youth to identify changes that can prevent such tragedies. This study focuses on the frequency of school standing down, suspensions, exclusions, and expulsions among reviewed cases and compares it to national data.
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Being stood down from school is a cry for help Sue Peacock and Alison Leversha on behalf of the ADHB CYMRG
Background Child and Youth Mortality Review Groups (CYMRG) review deaths of children and youth aged 28 days to 24 years to identify any process or systems change which may prevent similar deaths from occurring Not about “naming or blaming”
Aim To determine the frequency of being stood-down, suspended, excluded or expelled from school among cases reviewed and compare this to the national population-based data.
Education definitions Stand-down means the formal removal of a student from school for a specified period. Suspension means the formal removal of a student from school until the board of trustees holds a suspension meeting and decides the outcome. Exclusion means the formal removal of a student aged under 16 from the school and the requirement that the student enrol elsewhere. Expulsion means the formal removal of a student aged 16 or over from the school.
Cases reviewed Seventy deaths (non-medical) Aged 10-24 years 36 month period (deaths in 2008-11) Education data available for 53 cases
Education Data (53) Other Falls 3 4 Drowning Suicide 6 28 RTC 12
Method Standard mortality review process Information collated - including DHB health records, CYFS, Police, ambulance, Ministry of Education, Victim Support, and Primary healthcare providers
Case Review Process Death Time Line Summary of event outlined + persons life + after death care Looking for intervention points 9
Help Help Intervention point: Stand down or suspension from school
Learnings/findings 23% had left or been excluded from school before their 16th birthday 60% of youth who die from any cause had a history of being stood down, suspended, excluded or disengaged from school Maori were disproportionately affected
Recommendations A stand down, suspension or exclusion from school is a red flag for a high risk of adverse outcomes and should be seen as a cry for help. This is an opportunity for a comprehensive health, education and psychosocial assessment.
HEADSS (psychosocial interview) H ome & Environment E ducation & Employment A ctivities (with peer group) D rugs S exuality S uicide/ Depression
Actions ADHB school based health services have amended their contract so that HEADSS assessments are carried out on suspended or disengaged youth School stand downs have been added as a specific objective in the Youth Health Plan for the Auckland region
Actions The impact of death reviews has influenced some areas of development in the Auckland office of the Ministry of Education Seeking funding for a combined health/education project to carry out comprehensive health, education and psychosocial assessments on students stood down, suspended, excluded or expelled from specific schools