The Challenges of Incorporating School Psychologists into the Schools in Paran , Brazil

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The Challenges of Incorporating School
Psychologists into the Schools in Paraná , Brazil

• Maria Elizabeth Nickel Haro
• Conselho Regional de Psicologia 08
• Paraná - Brasil
• Natalie Manbeck, Ed.D.
• National-Louis University
• Chicago, Illinois USA

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WHO WE ARE
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BRAZIL
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BRAZIL IN LATIN AMERICA
Estimated Population today 189.260.394
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PARANÁ
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PARANÁ
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CURITIBAEstimated Population 2.800,000
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CURITIBA
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• FACTS ABOUT EDUCATION IN BRAZIL

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A country of Contrasts
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A country of contrasts
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A country of Contrasts
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BASIC EDUCATIONABSOLUTE AND PERCENTAGE
VARIATION OF SCHOOL REGISTRATIONSBRAZIL AND
REGIONS2005 - 2006
North 22.232 (0,4)

• Northeast
• 243.671
• (-1,3)

• Central West
• 9.785
• (-0,2)

• Southeast
• 320.289
• (-1,5)

BRAZIL Population 2005 56,4 millions
Population 2006 56,9 millions Absolute
Difference Total - 529.740 (-0,9) Early
Childhood 7.000,000 Fundamental
33.200,000 Secondary School 8.900,000 Special
Ed. 375,000 Youth and Adult Ed.
5.600,00 Professional Ed. 744,000 Source
MEC/INEP
South 21.773 (0,3)
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• FACTS ABOUT PSYCHOLOGY IN BRAZIL

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PSYCHOLOGISTS IN BRAZILStatistics
People who studied Psychology at the University
level176,000 34 working in Psychology Average
of 10 work with School Psychology 3 take post
graduate courses in School Psychology
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School Psychology in ParanáStatistics
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WHAT WE HAVE
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What we Have

• Council System
• Education Committees
• Associations
• ABRAPEE Brazilian Association of
  School Psychology
• ABEP Brazilian Association of
  Psychology Teaching
• Laws
• Law Projects

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Laws and Law projects across Brazil

• APPROVED
• Espírito Santo -2001
• Mato Grosso do Sul - 2002
• Paraná 2006

• PROJECTS
• São Paulo
• Rio de Janeiro
• Minas Gerais
• Federal

Municipal - Maringá Municipal -
Umuarama Municipal - Londrina Municipal - Cascavel
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Paraná State Law 15075 , May/04/2006

• Art. 1º. The Paraná State Government
  authorizes the implementation of a
  Psycho-educational and Social Work Program in all
  Elementary, Middle and Secondary School units of
  the Public Schools Net in the State of Paraná.
• Art. 2º. Each Elementary, Middle and Secondary
  Unit of this Public State Net must have a trained
  multidisciplinary team to offer psycho
  pedagogical and social services to registered
  students, and give technical support to teachers
  and administrators. 1º. The mentioned
  multidisciplinary team must include, at the
  minimum, one psychologist, one pedagogue and one
  social worker. 2º. The multidisciplinary team
  will provide preventive or therapeutic services
  to students, according to the situation or
  identified cases within the School Unit.
  
• 3º. The multidisciplinary team will
  provide orientation to parents, families and
  caretakers whenever necessary or when required
  to do so.
• Art. 3º. To accomplish the previous article, the
  State Government can establish partnerships with
  Colleges and Universities, to contract technical
  personnel.
• Art. 4º. The Executive Power is authorized
  to proceed with the necessary administrative and
  financial adjustments to carry out this law.
• Art. 5º. This law takes effect from the
  date of its publication, to be implemented in the
  following school year.
• 
  Curitiba, May 4th, 2006.

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School/Educational Psychologists goal,
according to the Regional Council 08

• The School/Educational Psychologists goal is
  the development t of citizenship skills. It looks
  for instruments to support students appropriate
  academic progress and respecting individual
  differences. It is driven by a healthy promotion
  of school community through preventive actions
  that oversee a personal and social transformation
  process. This work is based on human development
  knowledge, learning styles, interests and
  individual aptitudes, and awareness of social
  roles.

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School Psychologist's role

• The School Psychologist develops planned
  activities with students, teachers and staff, and
  acts in partnership with school administration,
  families and professionals who work with students
  out of school setting.
• From a systemic perspective, SP works in two
  fronts prevention and intervention (one that
  requires adjustments and changes). Therefore,
  contributes to cognitive, social and human
  development of school wide community.

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Information that has been developed to promote
school psychologists CRP 08

• The Education Committee has developed the
  following
• Talking with Schools Project
• School Psychology Handbook
• School Psychology Journey

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School Psychology Handbook - Topics

• Presentation
• What is School/Educational Psychology
• History and Preparation
• Goals
• Framework
• Approaches Psychodrama, Psychoanalysis,
  Behaviorism, Systemic Theory, Neuropsychology,
  Gestalt pedagogy
• Intervention areas school, teachers, staff,
  community, students
• Public Politics and School/Educational Psychology
• The day by day
• References

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School Psychology Journey
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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WHAT WE NEED
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Challenges that are being faced

• Depending on Psychologists
• Lack of Strategy to assure SP in schools
• Prevalence of clinical approach
• Preparation of SP
• Small amount of research based on Brazilian
  reality
• Unclear definition of SP role
• Lack of Post-Graduate Courses in School
  Psychology
• Distance between the theory and practice
• Unrealistic expectations from school personnel
  of SP
• Improve cultural valuing of Social Services

• Depending on Government
• Brazilian Educations lack of focus and
  strategies for implementation
• Scarce Resources/investments
• Weak remuneration for education personnel

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What we needto get SP into schools in Paraná

• To know
• Number of School Psychologists to be contracted
• The timeline to get one psychologist for each
  school unit
• To do
• Develop and implement strategies to
• - get professionals involved in the movement
  to make the selection process work
• - work with politicians to define a plan for
  the implementation of the law
• Prepare psychologists to work in schools under a
  common language and preventive approach
• Meet Social Workers and Pedagogues to develop a
  common document with clear definition of roles
• Learn to work with administration, students,
  parents, teachers and community

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Suggestions to promote School Psychology in
Brazil

• Gather updated information on student population
  and the number of psychologists needed
• Develop and implement a realistic plan based on
  information gathered
• Support ABRAPEE and ABEP initiatives
• Make suggestions for improving SP preparation at
  the University level
• Produce and translate School Psychology books
• Promote School Psychology professionalism
• Work to get Federal laws that cover SP services
• Promote awareness of the need for teamwork
  between school psychologists and other educators.
  

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Maria Elizabeth Nickel Haro, M.Ed.Natalie
Manbeck, Ed.D.

• Elizabeth.haro_at_yahoo.com
• Nmanbeck_at_nl.edu