Director of Student Support and Health Services
Aurora Hurtado
Secretary to the Director - Toni Cavazos
Phone Number: (832) 386-1033
Coordinator of Student Support and Health Services - Fran Urbanovsky
Program Director of Early Head Start - Carmen Brown
Secretary to the Program Director - Elia Ovalle
Phone Number: (713) 670-7151
The Student Support and Health Services office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information call (832) 386-1033. However, to access emergency social services after hours, contact Community Youth Services’ Chimney Rock location at (713) 664-5701 where requests will be relayed to Galena Park ISD Youth Services Specialists (YSS).
Mission Statement:
With a major focus on special population students, Student Support and Health Services provides assistance for all students through curriculum development, teacher and parent training, health care, prevention/intervention counseling in a way that all students can achieve their maximum potential in both academic and social skills.
Our services include the following:
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Health Education: Staff Development |
District School Health Services Advisory Council |
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Staff Development (see trainings) |
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Through Student Support and Health Services, regular teachers of special population students in Galena Park Independent School District are afforded opportunities to receive training in structured multi-sensory techniques as well as in other practical, instructional, and organizational strategies designed for helping students achieve success in the classroom.
These teachers are able to learn and use innovative approaches for modifying curriculum, instruction, and assessment to meet the needs of diverse students.
Strategies are inclusive of but not limited to the following best practices topics:
Learning Techniques
| Active Learning |
| Service Learning |
| Direct Learning |
| Cooperative Learning and Assessment |
| Learning Styles |
Teaching Methods and Strategies
Meeting Health Care Needs
| Coordinated Health Services |
Satisfying Social Needs
| Self-esteem |
| Conflict Resolution |
| Others (See our services) |
Through Service Learning projects, students in Galena Park ISD collaborate with others in the neighboring areas to conduct and carry out service activities. Service Learning is a form of experiential learning in which students integrate academic knowledge and critical thinking skills to address genuine community needs. It is a method that provides students with the opportunity to apply newly acquired academic skills and knowledge to real life situations in their own communities. Service Learning Projects are done through PAL and Pride organizations.
Student Support and Health Services coordinates several parental involvement initiatives.
Family Literacy Initiatives are sponsored through a partnership with Galena Park ISD and Harris County Department of Adult Education. Adult Education classes are offered on five (5) elementary campuses. These include ESL and GED classes. Also, Citizenship classes are offered at Pyburn Elementary and Galena Park Middle School. Campus initiatives and training are available on the majority of campuses. Parents also have opportunities to hear from the experts on discipline, stress, substance abuse and other topics during the District Health Services Advisory Council quarterly meetings.
Parental Involvement Initiatives
Fatherhood Program
Parents as Teachers
*Additional parenting education initiatives are offered in the district on three levels.
Level I: Campus Parenting Education
Level II: Center for Success Parenting Education
Level III: Court Appointed Parenting Education
Outdoor Education
Outdoor Education affords students with an opportunity to explore nature and enhance their academic skills through such activities as nature walks, camping, and learning by discovery. Such experiential learning increases self-concepts, the feeling of being in control of outside forces, achievement motivation, reasoning,and appropriate "risk taking."
ROPES
A team building program, ROPES heightens trust, self-reliance, respect for others, appropriate risk-taking, and confidence in one’s self. In support of the program’s objective, ROPES’ curriculum motivates reluctant learners through experiential lessons, physical challenges and field experiences in a way that allows students to make connections between classroom learning and the real world so students will be more successful in the traditional learning environment. Male and female facilitators from each secondary campus are trained.
School Aged Parenting Services
Pregnancy, Education, and Parenting Program (PEP)/GPISD Child Care Center
Health and Intervention Services offers an integrated approach to providing comprehensive services to pregnant and parenting teens through the PEP program. Over 150 families are served within a year. The seven components of the PEP grant provide childcare, agency referrals, parenting education, transportation, career awareness, counseling and assistance with grades and attendance. Counseling consists of individual counseling, peer counseling, and self-help components. Child Care for the infants and toddlers of GPISD students allow teen parents to attend school and/or work. Transportation for children to and from the GPISD Child Care Center and for children to and from appointments is provided. In conjunction with the above services are classes taught by a specialist, who concentrates on child development, parenting, home and family living, food science, and nutrition. A contracted teacher provides Parents As Teachers (PAT) for in-home parenting training for beginning pregnant teens. Outside agency referrals include prenatal and postnatal health and nutrition programs. Our PEP program is noted across the state of Texas.
Pregnancy Related Services (PRS)
Pregnancy Related Services is a support program for pregnant students. Health and Intervention assists the program by providing funding for classroom materials and training for the certified teacher who teaches the Community Class. Services include parenting, transportation, counseling, and case management among others. Unlike PEP, only females qualify for this service that is located at the Accelerated Education Center in North Shore.
Community Class
The Community Class is designed to support the efforts of pregnant students from the seventh month of pregnancy until the infant is six weeks old; at that time the student is transitioned back into the regular classroom setting. The Community class provides instruction in academic and vocational courses. Prenatal classes and group counseling are also provided as an option. Transportation too is part of the service package.
The Galena Park ISD Early Head Start (EHS) program, located at 1908 2nd street in Galena Park, is a federally funded program for low-income families, infants/ toddlers, and pregnant women. The EHS program provides services to eligible families residing in zip codes 77015, 77029, 77049, and 77547. It’s mission is to support pregnant women, infants/toddlers, their families and program staff in a way that respects the abilities and uniqueness of each group to grow, develop, become socially competent and self –sufficient members of society. As a child development center, it’s major focus is to promote health by focusing on the nutritional, educational, social, and health needs of children and their families. Following best practices, the program offers a wide array of services, all meeting Early Head Start Performance Standards, including but not limited to:
- Establishing developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive services for infants/toddlers and families;
- Building effective relationships with families;
- Promoting family involvement;
- Creating developmentally appropriate environments;
- Establishing effective networking, collaboration, and community building skills;
- Providing inclusive services for children with special needs;
- Assisting pregnant women through comprehensive services;
- Furthering program and professional development, and
- Maintaining on-going program evaluation and continuous improvement.
Named William F. (Bill) Becker Early Childhood Development Center, GPISD's Early Head Start center is a place where educare teachers and administrators alike devote their efforts toward providing quality services to children and families.
The Fatherhood Connection, a service component of EHS, was developed to encourage fathers and/or other male family members of GPISD Early Head Start children to take a lead role in their children's education and to assist in their own educational, employment, and parenting needs. Not only is the goal to develop and increase involvement of fathers in their children's learning and development, but to help them develop a lasting relationship with their children in order to foster the child's optimal development. The EHS Family Service Specialist directs and assists fathers in accessing community services and resources. Supported by a team of experienced staff, family needs are assessed with regard to providing assistance with planning for self-sufficiency and family goals. Monthly group meetings provide a time for fathers to participate directly with Early Head Start program planning.
School Health Services Advisory Council
The purpose of the Galena Park ISD School Health Services Advisory Council is to see that all children pre-kindergarten through grade 12 receive health services that reflect the mission of GPISD and promote wellness by developing an awareness campaign that will (1) help our community establish quality school health programs, (2) make an ongoing commitment to the community to ensure that quality school health programs are supported, and (3) not only improve the health outcome of our community, but equip our children and youth with the knowledge and skills that they need for a lifetime of good health.
School Nurse Care
Registered nurses establish and maintain a comprehensive school health program, which meets the existing needs and identifies future needs of students, staff, and community. In addition, they enhance the educational process by the modification or removal of health-related barriers to learning and by promotion of an optimal level of awareness. School nurses serve in an advisory capacity to the building principal on health related concerns of students, community agencies, physicians and other health related assessment, intervention, referral, instruction, counseling and guidance for students and staff. School nurses also serve as a liaison between the schools of the district and Harris County Hospital District/Galena Park Independent School District School-Based Clinic (named Almatha Clark-Taylor School-based Health Clinic).
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP Insurance) and Medicaid Registration
In partnership with the Houston Area CHIP Coalition, GPISD school nurses, youth services specialists, truancy/dropout clerks as well as the entire food services department assist parents and students with completing CHIP and Medicaid applications and securing other health and social services.
School-Based Health Clinic
The Almatha Clark Taylor Community Health Clinic is a joint effort of Galena Park Independent School District and Harris County Hospital District. The school-based health clinic concept was established with health promotion and disease prevention as motivation to improve the quality of life for school children, their under school age siblings, and their families as a whole. Its intent is to lessen students’ absences from school and parents’ absences from work due to children’s illnesses. At the same time, GPISD and HCHD are pleased to expand services that can help students better concentrate on academic success. Located at 14002 Balderas at Frankie Street, the clinic is housed at the back of Cloverleaf Elementary School.
Clinic Services
| Immunization |
| Texas Health Steps (EPSDT Exams) |
| Minor Acute Care |
| Sports Physicals |
| Health Education |
| HCHD Gold Card Eligibility |
Note: Gold card eligibility is available on different days throughout the week. Please check with the above clinic to obtain the day that eligibility is available.
Fee
Cost based on family’s ability to pay or on a sliding scale
Location
Almatha Clark Taylor Community Health Clinic
14002 Balderas Street
Houston, TX 77015
Phone Number
713-330-8904
Referrals
May be made by school nurses, athletic trainers, and parents
Open for Business Year Round
Monday through Friday
8:00a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
A Nurse Practitioner is available Monday-Friday
for Minor and Acute Care
For an appointment, please call or visit the clinic at the above location
Prevention and intervention services are provided through our school district’s Intervention Team. The team is comprised of district intervention staff and Harris County
Community Youth Services (CYS), the office that provides Youth Service Specialists (YSS). Serving as contracted social service professionals, YSS brings impeccable credentials and years of expertise to academic, economic and social needs of adolescents experiencing behavioral problems, parent/child conflicts, truancy, suicidal ideation, substance abuse and physical abuse. Referrals are received from campus counselors, staff nurses, parents, agency representatives, and individual students. Referrals are made to contract therapists, private counselors, local agencies and area programs. Intervention Team members are also readily accessible resources for district staff. Intervention Team members provide group counseling in anger management, self-esteem, grief and substance abuse resistance.
The Student Support and Health Services staff administers Safe and Drug Free Schools funds to provide campuses with support for their PALS and other anti-drug and anti-violence programs. Galena Park, Jacinto City, and Houston Police Department are responsible for bringing Drug Prevention strategies and lessons to our school district. We ourselves coordinate the
Safe and Drug-Free Sub-committee, a district-wide committee responsible for anti-drug/ anti-violence efforts. In addition, we work with the
Harris County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority to provide mental health assessments and treatment, including medication clinics and individual and group counseling. In addition to Harris County, referrals are made to IntraCare Medical Center for the provision of crisis intervention, psychiatric services and chemical dependency treatment services, etc. Assessments are free of charge. Through a partnership agreement, IntraCare provides staff
development for our nurses and counselors. We support
home school efforts by providing general information on available curriculums, home school associations and any updates from the Texas Education Agency. The Health and Intervention Services’ staff also supports campuses in their efforts to implement and operate
Peer Mediation programs. We also refer students, staff and families to the Dispute Resolution Center. Trained mediators are available weekly to mediate disputes between students and to assist in the resolution of campus or neighborhood conflicts.
Communities in the Schools will return to GPISD as it renders social services by providing supportive guidance for students and parents in order to improve student attendance, and to increase parental assistance. Extensive follow-up services, additional tutoring, and truancy counseling are a part of this accommodation. The department also provides training for the districts
Truancy/Dropout clerks who provide further social and moral support for s students through referrals and other assistance. Gulf Coast CHIP Coalition/TexCare Partnership, Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, American Cancer Association, and the American Heart Association are organizations that assist the department in educating our parents, students, teachers, support staff, and administrators informed about health coverage and other health matters.
SOUTH SIDE OF DISTRICT
Adriana Avila, 713-672-2486
*Galena Park Middle School, Galena Park High School, Galena Park Elementary School, Woodland Acres Middle School, Woodland Acres Elementary School
NORTH SIDE OF DISTRIST
TBA, 713-453-7183, ext. 2127
*North Shore High School, ACE, North Shore Middle. School, Green Valley Elementary School
Clyde Williams, 713-450-9000, ext. 433
*Cunningham Middle, North Shore Senior High, Center for Success, Cobb 6th Grade Campus
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Frederick Pickrom, 713-450-8130
*Tice Elementary, Cimarron Elementary, Cloverleaf Elementary, Havard Elementary, Purple Sage Elementary
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS/SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Mike Hein, 713-450-8200
Administration Building, Jacinto City Elementary, MacArthur Elementary, Pyburn Elementary, *Cloverleaf/PASS/ACT School-based Health Clinic, Early Head Start Center, North Shore Elementary
*Office location
Please note that Health and Intervention Services’ office hours are 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call Chimney Rock Center (CRC) at 713-664-5701 for emergencies after 5:00 p.m.
| United Way Help Line |
713-957-HELP |
| Crisis Intervention (Teen-Line) |
713-529-TEEN |
| San Jacinto Regional Mental Health Center |
713-947-9914 |
| Almatha Clark Taylor Health Clinic |
713-330-8904 |
| Chicano Family Center |
713-923-2316 |
| North Channel Assistance Ministries (Basic Needs) |
713-453-8028 |
| Family Services Center (Pasadena) |
281-472-2344 |
| Bay Area Women’s Center |
281-424-3300 |
| Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) |
713-970-4600 |
| Dispute Resolution Center |
713-755-8274 |
| Covenant House |
713-523-2231 |
| Houston Alliance for Mentally Ill Children (HAMIC) |
713-783-8470 |
| Youth Services Specialists "YSS" |
832-386-1076 |
| Communities in Schools (NSHS Pilot) |
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| Triad Social Worker (Kenisha Bundage) |
713-450-2490 ext. 17 |
| *Gulf Coast CHIP Coalition/TexCare Health Partnership |
1-800-647-6558 |
| Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services |
713-439-6000 |
| Aurora Hurtado |
Director of Student Support and Health Services |
(832) 386-1033 |
| Fran Urbanovsky |
Coordinator |
(832) 386-1076 |
| Mark Goza |
Coordinator |
(832) 386-1076 |
| Cheryl Vital |
Prevention/Intervention Specialist |
(832) 386-1076 |
| Carmen D. Brown, LMSW |
Early Head Start Program Director |
(713) 670-7151 |
| Carolyn Speed-Butler |
Early Head Start Education Specialist/Center Director |
(713) 670-7151, ext. 130 |
| Ernesto Peredes |
Early Head Start Family Service Specialist (Fatherhood Project and Community Partnerships) |
(713) 670-7151, ext. 1134 |
| Felicia Thomas, R.N. |
Nurse/Health and Disabilities Specialist |
(713) 670-7151, ext. 1132 |
| Juanita Hanson |
Children's Center Director |
(713) 670-7152 |
| Liz Sparks |
PEP Self-Sufficiency Specialist |
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| Julie Simmons |
Community Class Teacher |
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| Julie Jones, MD |
ACT School-based Health Clinic Physician |
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| Linda Smith |
ACT School-based Health Clinic Nurse Practitioner |
(713) 330-8904 |
| Donald Nino |
Consultant Physician for Galena Park ISD |
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| Toni Cavazos |
Secretary to Director |
(832) 386-1032 |
| Carol Eureste |
Secretary to Prevention/Intervention Specialist |
(832) 386-1076 |
| Elia Ovalle |
Secretary to Early Head Start Program Director |
(713) 670-7154 |
For Services or Questions:
| Health and Intervention Services Department
| Aurora Hurtado
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| Result-Based Monitoring/Compliance |
Aurora Hurtado |
| Health Care Services |
Aurora Hurtado |
Truancy/Dropout Prevention Support Services:
Truancy/Dropout Prevention Clerks and Liaisons-
Laura Infante, Tice Elementary Clerk
Laurie Ortega Rulenwider, GPHS Clerk
Jenny Becerra, NSSHS Clerk
Ernesto Peredes, Early Head Start Liaison
Liz Sparks, PEP Liaisons
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Aurora Hurtado |
| Public Relations |
Aurora Hurtado |
Extended Services
| Galena Park ISD School Health Services Advisory Council |
Aurora Hurtado |
| Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Sub-committee Facilitation |
Cheryl Vital |
| Nurses/School Health Services/School-based Health Clinic Liaison |
Aurora Hurtado |
| Safe and Drug Free Schools and Community (SDFSC) Initiatives |
Cheryl Vital |
| SDFSC Training |
Cheryl Vital |
| Staff Development |
Cheryl Vital |
| Student Wellness |
Aurora Hurtado |
| Web-site (On-line Updates) |
Aurora Hurtado |
| Truancy/Dropout Prevention Support |
Aurora Hurtado |
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| Parent Education |
Fran Urbanovsky |
| PEP |
Fran Urbanovsky |
| Parent-Adolescent Relation Education |
Fran Urbanovsky |
| Parent Education |
Fran Urbanovsky |
| Health Education Staff Development |
Fran Urbanovsky |
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| Community Class |
Julie Simmons |
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| Early Head Start |
Carmen Brown |
Prevention/Intervention Services
| Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Compliance Issues/In-Department Budget Auditor |
Cheryl Vital |
| Community Crisis Response Team |
Cheryl Vital |
Training:
Drug and Violence Education (DAVE)
Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation
Non-Violent Crisis Resolution
Intervention Assistance Team (IAT)
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Cheryl Vital |
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| Additional Support Services |
Aurora Hurtado |
