FOCUS Program Launches at Southwest

We are excited to announce the launch of the FOCUS Program at Southwest School Corporation, a transformative initiative funded through the 2025-2027 Juvenile Behavioral Health Competitive Grant Pilot Program by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). With a grant award of over $900,000, the FOCUS model is set to revolutionize how we provide behavioral health support to students and families.

FOCUS is an evidence-based intermediate care coordination program designed to support students with moderate behavioral health needs. The program aims to:

• Provide early intervention and care coordination before challenges escalate.

• Connect families with community resources, educational support, and behavioral health services.

• Reduce school discipline issues through targeted interventions.

• Offer wraparound services such as mental health support, peer mentorship, and community engagement.

• Strengthen family involvement in student success.

• Year 1 (April 2025 – March 2026): Recruiting and training staff, establishing partnerships, and launching care coordination services in schools.

• Year 2 (April 2026 – March 2027): Expanding services, developing summer programs, and assessing program impact to ensure sustainability beyond the grant period.

• Salary: $75,000 (Year 1), $77,250 (Year 2)

• Role: Provides clinical supervision to Care Plan Coordinators, ensures adherence to FOCUS principles, oversees care plan development, and promotes family engagement.

• Preferred Qualifications: Master’s in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or related field (Bachelor’s required).

• Salary: $50,000 (Year 1), $51,500 (Year 2)

• Role: Develops and implements care plans, connects families with resources, and provides advocacy for student needs.

• Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor’s in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Education, or related field. Experience in case management is highly desirable.

Interested candidates should submit an application, a criminal background check, and the following documents by Friday, April 11, 2025 to Samantha Phegley at sphegley@swest.k12.in.us:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• Transcript

• Three Letters of Reference

• Certifications & Training (if applicable)

By implementing the FOCUS model, Southwest School Corporation will:

• Improve student behavioral health outcomes
• Reduce disciplinary actions and absenteeism
• Increase family engagement
• Enhance collaboration between schools and community resources
• Ensure long-term sustainability of care coordination services

This is a game-changing opportunity to provide proactive and structured behavioral health support for our students, families, and schools. Stay tuned for more updates as we begin this exciting journey!

For more information, contact Samantha Phegley at sphegley@swest.k12.in.us.