The Freeport Area Care Team (FACT) at Freeport Area School District is available in every building and is designed to provide various support services to meet students’ social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. The goals of the FACT Program are to facilitate collaboration between home and school and provide interventions to help students overcome barriers to learning. The program is voluntary, and parents/guardians are notified and provided with approval forms that must be submitted prior to a student's participating in the program.
The FACT team is composed of trained school professionals (school counselors, licensed professional counselor, teachers, and administrators) who may receive referrals from parents, teachers, students, and other school staff. This team works closely with outside agencies and other counseling and referral services. A list of team members is available in the guidance office of each school.
What is a FACT Team?
A core team is a trained team of school personnel that meets regularly to identify and assist students and families in seeking appropriate help through FACT. The core team may also include a liaison, representing both the mental health and drug and alcohol systems.
What might be a reason to refer someone to the FACT Team?
- Change in behavior or mood (easily upset, sad, angry, fighting, unpredictable, secretive, etc.)
- Drop in grades or school performance (skipping school, not completing home work, etc.)
- Change in friends, appearance or interest
- Physical systems or health problems (fatigue, weight loss/gain, change in sleep patterns, headaches, etc.)
- Defiance of rules at home or school
- Alcohol or other drug use, no matter how minimal, or misuse of medications
- Bullying
- Expressing hopelessness, worthlessness or helplessness
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Runaway or leaving for extended periods of time
- Family dynamics
- Personal stressors (relocation, job loss, birth, death, military deployment of family members, etc.)
What is the FACT policy regarding confidentiality?
Confidentiality between all parties involved in the FACT process shall be respected and maintained in the best interest of the student and in accordance with all state and federal laws protecting the privacy rights of parents and students.
How can I refer someone to the FACT Program?
You may complete the FACT Referral Form, and send it to the Counseling Office of the school the student attends. Please do not send the form with any student.
What is the Parents’ Role?
Parent involvement strengthens the decision making process about any behavior that is affecting the education, health, safety, or welfare of their child. Active parent support of the FACT process promotes student success. Students are more likely to benefit from FACT recommendations when parents are informed, involved and supportive.
What is the FACT Referral Process?
STEP I — Students are referred to FACT by:
- School Administrator
- Teacher
- Other School Personnel (School Counselor, Nurse, etc.)
- Fellow Students
- Self-Referral
- Parent/Family
STEP II — All referrals to the FACT Program are reviewed by the team, and a formal information-gathering process begins. Data is collected from various sources such as:
- Student Records (academic, school attendance)
- Teachers (classroom behavior)
- School Counselors (special areas of concern)
- School Nurse
- Other School Personnel
STEP III — Based on information gathered, a determination is made by the team as to the level of intervention that is needed. When in-school screening has been indicated, a screening is scheduled with the licensed professional counselor. Throughout the FACT process, family and team work together to develop the plan.
STEP IV — The team and/or licensed professional counselor then assists the student and the parents/family in developing an action plan. The action plan may consist of:
- In-school support services and/or
- Further evaluation by the licensed professional counselor for in-school mental health therapy, drug and alcohol system or both to determine the most appropriate level of care needed and/or other professional services outside the school setting.
Types of Possible Interventions:
Parent Meeting
Tutoring
Adult/Teacher Mentoring
Small Group Counseling
Behavior/Academic Plans
Truancy Prevention Plans
Individual Counseling
Drug/Alcohol Counseling (Outside Agencies)
STEP V — The team monitors the progress of the student to determine the extent to which the identified problems are being resolved through the action plan. If necessary, changes will be made to the action plan.