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'. . J High School Alternatives The Alternative School Program began officially on September 8, 1978 with thirteen students. At the end of the current school year the program has been involved with 47 students on either a part-time or full-time basis. The intent of the program has been to serve students who have not been able to function in regular mainstream programs. A goal we have considered important in the re-mainstreaming of students wherever practical. The types of referrals we have been most successful with include students with the following problems or needs: 1. High absenteeism 2. Behavioral problems that can better be handled in a smaller setting 3. Students with a low motivation 4. Students in need of greater individualized instruction than is practical in the mainstream schools 5. Students who have a very low level of self-esteem As per our initial proposal we feel we do not have the expertise to deal with students who have special learning problems. However, we have provided the mainstream portion of the program for some students who have received special education services at the mainstream school. Types of students who are not successful in the Alternative Program include students who have very severe behavioral problems most appropriately served in a program for emotionally disturbed youth as well as students who are abus- ing chemicals to the degree that residential treatment would be most appropriate. As mentioned earlier, the program has served a total of 47 students during the past year. This figure is a bit misleading since it represents individual count rather than full time students. Since our original 13 students, we have expanded the program to 33 full time students (4 hours of classroom instruction--plus the two hour work experience component). Adult Enrichment Classes and Parks & Recreation Offerings The Communi ty Resource Center has housed 40 courses through the Communi ty Education Department, with a total of 314 participants. Some of these courses include: German, Drawing, Quilting, Suzuki, Sew Like A Pro, Jazz A Size, Slim and Trim, Painting, Let's Face It, Silk Flowers, Sewing Slacks, Sewing T-Shirts and courses concerning Career Development and Community Health. Parks and Recreation Departments have offered such classes as: Tap & Ballet and Basketball. Community groups hold Hebrew and Baton classes at the CRe also. Participation totals for these programs was 390. Adolescent Abuse Project The Adolescent Abuse Project began in March 1979. As a part of this project I was assigned to work within the Mounds View and Roseville School Districts. The work in these communities has involved numerous meetings at schools as well as educational sessions with students and faculty. The meetings were held to inform staff of the Child Abuse Unit's outreach services. Meetings were held with the principals, assistant principals, counselors, social workers, and nurses at each public secondary school.