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G2S Project Code: 2017-MN-79954
State: Minnesota
Fiscal Year: 2017

Grantee
SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Project Director
Director Name: Greg Giles
Director Phone: 651-366-6499
Director Email: greg@thefriends.org

General Information
Title: Providing a Social Work Professional to Best Serve the At-risk Youth in the Community
State Project Code:
Start Date: 11/15/2017
End Date: 09/30/2018
Abstract:

The Saint Paul Public Library hired an experienced social worker to provide direct service in four library locations: Arlington Hills, Rice Street, Rondo, and Sun Ray. These four libraries were chosen because of the high need of children and families for resources beyond what the library provides (basic needs, housing, financial assistance, physical and mental healthcare, etc.). The social worker spent one day per week at each library location. She provided counseling and referrals to patrons for whom homelessness, poverty, violence, trauma, chemical and mental health, and other challenges may be a barrier to using the library. The social worker also consulted with staff members on patron needs, resources, and behaviors. This program was successful at reaching patrons in the library who need the services of a social worker, with 350 people impacted.

State Goal: Increase access to library resources

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$71,240.43

$0.00

$20,264.93

$91,505.36

Intent(s)
Improve users' general knowledge and skills.
Personal/Family health & wellness
Continuing Education and Staff Development

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Staff Training
Narrative:

Library managers identified training needs. The project manager contracted presenters and coordinated presentations. The Library social worker attended the trainings in order to understand their concerns, support them outside of the trainings, and add to the team dynamic.

Overall, 22 training sessions were offered, 602 hours of training was received, and 101 staff members participated. A total of five training sessions were held on each of the following topics:

Trauma Informed Customer Service
Behavior Modification and De-escalation
Personal Safety and Professional Boundaries,
Secondary Trauma, Vicarious Trauma, and Burnout

An additional multi-part training with a facilitated discussion at four libraries, was also offered:

Survival-based Youth: Engaging Youth who haveexperienced Trauma (part 1)
Survival-based Youth: Establishing and Maintaining Positive Behavior Norms and Standards (part 2)
Survival-based Youth: Limit-Setting Team Building Discussion

Two library managers also attended the Restorative Practices Conference to better understand organizational approaches to healing and forgiveness. Library managers and the library social worker also met with consultants to plan reflective practices, community mental health and behavior management.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Program
Format: In-person

Quantity
Session length (minutes): 120
Number of sessions in program: 4
Average number in attendance per session: 16
Number of times program administered: 5

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 90 WEST FOURTH STREET
City: SAINT PAUL
State: MN
Zip: 55102
Question 1: I learned something by participating in this library activity.
Strongly Agree: 98
Agree: 82
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 3
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0
Question 2: I feel more confident about what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 109
Agree: 58
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 16
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0
Question 3: I intend to apply what I just learned.
Strongly Agree: 86
Agree: 89
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 4
Disagree: 2
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 4
Question 4: Applying what I learned will help improve library services to the public.
Strongly Agree: 78
Agree: 90
Neither Agree nor Disagree: 14
Disagree: 3
Strongly Disagree: 2
Non-Response: 0

Activity Details
Title: Social Worker Support
Narrative:

The Library social worker consulted with staff 39 times between March and August and had 123 engagements with patrons through weekly office hours at four locations. Many of the patrons she assisted are also parents, which had an impact on 188 children. She made referrals to 22 outside organizations. The social worker was also available by appointment. According to library staff members, patron needs are often a reflection of resources that are lacking within the surrounding community. Therefore, the needs vary across each library.

Intent: Improve users' general knowledge and skills.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Consultation/drop-in/referral
Format: In-person

Quantity
Total number of consultation/reference transactions: 162
Average number of consultation/reference transactions per month: 23

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: Targeted
Geographic community of the targeted group: Urban
For what age groups: All Ages
For what economic types: Below Poverty
For what ethnicity types: Indian
Asian
Black
Hispanic
Is the activity directed at families: No
Is the activity directed at intergenerational groups: No
Is the activity directed at immigrants/refugees: No
Is the activity directed at those with disabilities: No
Limited functional literacy or informational skills: No
Is the activity category not already captured: Yes: homeless

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: No
Specific Locations: Yes
Name: SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Address: 90 WEST FOURTH STREET
City: SAINT PAUL
State: MN
Zip: 55102

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
Each library offered patrons opportunities to indicate their awareness of the library social worker through dot voting. Dot voting occurred for two one-week periods and asked patrons about whether they knew about the presence of the social worker and the types of services she provided. Of the patrons who participated in dot voting, 37% were not aware of the social worker. Of those who were aware, almost half (45%) heard about the social worker through library staff members. Libraries also used flyers and handouts to tell patrons about the social worker. Additionally, some patrons learned through friends or fellow patrons. As staff members worked with the social worker and received training, they indicated an increase in confidence in responding to patron needs and referring them to the library social worker. An increase in staff members’ confidence impacts the library environment as a whole and shapes patron and staff member relationships. Staff Responses to pre- and post- project surveys indicate significant change in library staff confidence and attitudes. • In September, 97% of staff members reported that they strongly agree or somewhat agree that they feel knowledgeable about community and government resources outside of the library, up from 70% in spring. • In September, 94% of staff members reported that they strongly agree or somewhat agree that they feel confident in their ability to refer patrons to community and government resources outside of the library, up from 45% in spring. • In September, 92% of staff members reported that they strongly agree or somewhat agree that they feel prepared to handle most behavioral incidents in the library (noise, swearing, horseplay etc.), up from 60% in spring. • In September, 75% of staff members reported that they strongly agree or somewhat agree that they feel prepared to handle most emergency situations in the library (fights, medical emergencies, illegal activity, etc.), up from 40% in spring. The more difficult to measure but more important successes are the stories of people’s lives who were set on a new course because of the help received in the library. For example, a mother and her two year old son from out of town fleeing domestic abuse came to the library because they knew it would be safe and there would be helpful people around. The Library Social Worker spent hours searching and eventually finding a shelter that could provide a safe place for the monther and her son for the night. Last we heard, the mother had a job interview, they were both safe, and their lives were on a new trajectory. Last spring there was a youth experiencing homelessness in the library to use the wifi, but he also wanted to get back into school. The Library Social Worker helped him get connected with the school, helped him fill out paperwork, and got him the resources he needed to start a new path in life. This fall, he is still attending school and has a place to stay. These are just two stories, but there are many others of how we are making a difference in people’s lives because of this work
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
The evaluation findings give us an understanding of the needs in our communities. The library is looking into ways to create programming, bring in service providers or discussions that address some of the needs. Staff confidence changed with the combination of training and consultations with the social worker. Additional opportunities for staff members to internalize the learnings using reflective practices and create systems for restorative practices are being designed. The role of the staff in connecting patrons to the social worker is very evident, and staff will be encouraged to continue.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
• Importance of staff and organizational support for the work of the social worker.Staff know members of the community and the needs of the community. Staff can provide an array of services and service providers that intersect. • Change in our approach to customer service, including building our knowledge and understanding with trauma-sensitive practices. Recognizing that a high percentage of the population has experienced trauma at some time. Understanding that the person is not defined by the trauma experience, the current circumstances, or the behavior. Validating our patrons and giving them options. • Value of staff consultation with colleague with background in social work. Provides insights into behaviors and needs and can help strategize. Provides resources outside of the library. Can help debrief and help staff members manage their own secondary traumatic stress • In the library setting, expected outcomes need to be “right sized”. The stigma around social work and mental health exists. Many people don’t want to talk to a social worker, don’t want help, or don’t want to give feedback on meeting with the social worker. There are few “quick-fixes” and it takes time and commitment to make effective change. Many of our patrons are highly mobile; they move, their phone numbers change, and/or they don’t come back to the library.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
No
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:

Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: social worker