School counselors at Magnolia Science Academy 5 (MSA-5), a charter school in Reseda for students in grades 6-12, teamed up to deliver “Know Your Rights” care packages and college information directly to students’ homes.
The goals were to help curb fears about immigration detentions, build trust with families, and identify specific student and family needs in order to provide the information and support required for each home. It was also an opportunity for counselors to encourage kids to consider college or technical career pathways, and provide helpful information about financial aid options.
“When we visit students in their homes, we work to make families comfortable,” said Giovanni Garcia, community school coordinator at MSA-5. “Our primary purpose is to stay connected with parents and offer a personal touch that lets them know we care.”
Several years ago, MSA-5 adopted a California Community School model to help provide critical community resources for families, including social workers. The effort also allows counselors to assure parents and caregivers that their children are safe in the classroom.
Magnolia school administrators decided to incorporate the home visits in April, partly in response to the 10% drop in student attendance since the new presidential administration took office in January. Counselors aimed to help curb concerns among parents, who are increasingly fearful about immigration raids as rumors and news reports spread throughout the community.
“Families looked to us to offer recommendations about how to stay safe,” said Ali Kaplan, principal at MSA-5. “This is why we put together a care package with resources that they can share with others, and isn’t too overwhelming but easy to follow. We want families to know that the school is here for them.”
During the home visits, which were coordinated in advance, each family received a care package that includes a folder filled with key “Know Your Rights” information, red cards offered in various languages and a housing questionnaire. Families also received access to “Care Solace,” a free online service for MSA-5 that connects families and students with resources in their communities, streamlining accessibility to critical mental health programs and providers.
Some families also received backpacks with food cards, clothing, and other items and services.
“Some of our students are unhoused,” explained Jennifer Martinez, a counselor at MSA-5. “We met individually with these students to learn about [their] conditions and offer [additional] support where needed.”
To answer questions and concerns about college, counselors addressed the topic during home visits with students in all grades, and helped organize college visits for high school students.
“Families are worried about college, filling out financial aid applications requiring personal information, and their children going far away,” said Kaplan. “They especially feel vulnerable about giving income information. [We] helped answer questions, inform [and] support them.”
In addition to the care packages and home visits, this year the school launched English as a Second Language classes for parents, to help them overcome language barriers and advocate for themselves and their families.
“We want to empower parents,” said Kaplan. “As a STEAM school, we teach our kids to think critically [and] solve problems creatively. … Now we’re doing this on a larger scale, as a community.”
MSA-5, located at 18238 Sherman Way in Reseda, is one of 10 free charter public schools in the Magnolia Public Schools network in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.