 The three public school systems in Catawba
County make a cooperative effort to serve high risk students in grades six through twelve
at Catawba Valley High School (CVHS). CVHS is an alternative educational environment for
students who have been unsuccessful in the traditional school setting. This school is in
its 22nd year of providing services to a cross-section of the most at-risk students in the
county, both urban and rural. The mission of CVHS is to prepare all of its students in the
areas of academic achievement, healthy physical and emotional development, and appropriate
social interactions.
CVHS is a referral school which accepts students from the three
school systems throughout the academic year for issues related to discipline, attendance,
and academics. Although the average daily enrollment is approximately 115, as many as 350
students are served throughout the year. Numerous factors contribute to this fluctuation
in enrollment including graduation, returning to the referral school, transfers, and
dropouts.
CVHS is an accredited public school through the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools. It differs from regular public schools in that it has smaller classrooms and more
individualized attention, creating a more family-like atmosphere. This environment enables
students to address some issues and problems which prevent them from receiving a
successful education.
Many of the students at Catawba Valley High School either engage in or are exposed to
numerous high risk behaviors. Throughout the school year the CARE Team administers GAPS
(Guidelines for Adolescent Preventive Services) assessment forms to gather information
about the prevalence of these behaviors.
During the 1998/1999 school year one hundred and eleven surveys were completed and the
following data was compiled:
- 77% of students are sexually active
- 27% are not using birth control
- 20% have either been pregnant or gotten someone pregnant
- 62% smoke cigarettes
- 38% got drunk in the past month
- 33% use other drugs
- 39% have been in a physical fight in the past 3 months
- 48% have carried a weapon in the past year
- 32% have a firearm in their home
- 42% do violent things when angry
- 26% have seriously thought about killing themselves, made a plan to kill themselves, or
have attempted suicide
- 30% are worried about violence or their safety
 In order to provide the most comprehensive services for these students, CVHS has a
multi disciplinary team to address issues which hinder the students' success. The team is
called the Comprehensive Adolescent Health Resources and Education (CARE) Team. The
mission of the CARE Team is to provide a centralized resource area to meet the physical,
emotional, psychological and educational needs of the students enrolled at Catawba Valley
High School. The CARE Team consists of a Physician Assistant and Certified Nursing
Assistant employed by the Catawba County Health Department, a Clinical Social Worker
employed by the Catawba County Department of Social Services, a Licensed Psychological
Associate under contract with Catawba County Mental Health, and a School Counselor
employed by the Hickory City School System. In addition to the core members of the CARE
Team, there is additional support staff which can be accessed at the school. This staff
includes a Drug and Alcohol Counselor from Catawba County Council on Alcohol and Drug
Abuse, a Resource Officer from the Hickory Police Department, and Vocational
Rehabilitation Services.
In 1997, the C.A.R.E. Team received the Catawba County Team Award for their
implementation of a parenting program in conjunction with CVHS, Family Connections Day
Care, and the Catawba County Council on Adolescents. The services provided by the CARE
Team include: Services Back to Top
PROFESSIONAL STAFF
School Counselor: Kellene Bock, MA
Licensed Psychological Associate: Stacey Wilson, MA, LPA
Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Laura Keller, MSW, LCSW
Physician Assistant: Anita Gribble, PA-C
Certified Nursing Assistant: Kristie Cooke, CNA
School Resource Officer: Jeff Mozgala
Management Support Person: Hope Free
Vocational Rehabilitation Services Specialist (available once per week)
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SOCIAL WORK SERVICES
 The Social Work position is funded through a contract between the Catawba County
Department of Social Services and the Hickory City School System. Services provided by the
social worker include:
Individual, group, and family therapy to address social, behavioral, academic, or
psychological problems.
Case management to provide coordination of services for the student or family with
other social services and appropriate community resources.
Consultation with parents and caregivers to increase parental involvement in the
student's school attendance, behavior and academic progress.
The overall goal of the Social Worker is to assist students in successfully completing
the school year. Successful completion is defined by: return to the referring school,
enrollment in a GED or other alternative educational program, graduation or grade level
program. Since the 1995/1996 school year the outcome goal has risen from a minimum of 9
students successfully completing the school year to 58% of students being successful at
the end of the 1999/2000 year. The outcome goal has been met or exceeded every year since
this position was created.
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