The Grand Lodge of Ohio

NEXT TRAINING WILL BE FEBRUARY 28, 29 & MARCH 1, 2012 IN WORTHINGTON, OH

One Day In The Life Of America's Children:

• 110 teenagers attempt suicide
• 20 teenagers kill themselves
• 202 children are arrested for drug offenses
• 340 children are arrested for drinking or drunken driving
• 1,115 teenagers have abortions
• 1,225 teenagers drop out of school
• 1,234 children run away from home
• 2,860 children see their parents divorce
• 5,700 teenagers are victims of violent crime
• 7,945 children are abused or neglected

Helping Teachers Helping Kids

The Masonic Model Student Assistance Program is a gift from the Freemasons of Ohio to the schools in their communities. The program consists of a three-day intensive training seminar that enables core teams of faculty and staff members to effectively identify and refer at-risk youth.

The professional trainers, manuals, overnight accommodations, and meals are all provided at no cost to participants.

The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio offers an average of 3 training sessions per school year.

This page has been created to enable you to learn more about this worthwhile and effective program, the training schedule, and how to register a team for the training. If you have any additional questions, please call Ronald L. Winnett at (614) 755-2716.

To download a Masonic Model informational packet, click here (Adobe Reader required, available here). This informational packet includes facility information, the history of the program, training agenda, team selection criteria, and other general information about the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program.

The new Masonic Model video is now available online! To view this 6-minute video, click the appropriate connection speed below.

Dial-up (lower quality video, smaller file size) 5.6 Megs
High-Speed (higher quality video, larger file size) 42 Megs

You can also order a Video CD copy of this video for your school or district by contacting Micheal Cecil at the Grand Lodge. These CDs can be played on any PC.

The Masonic Model is presented by the National Masonic Foundation for Children.

Schedule of trainings

Below is the list of upcoming MMSAP sessions. To register for a session, complete the MMSAP Registration Form. Fax the form to the Grand Lodge (614-885-5319). Dates in blue are still open.  Dates in red have been filled.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who should participate in Masonic Model?

A core team from each participating school, often consisting of a regular or special education teacher, an administrator, the school nurse, and other staff members, attend the seminar. Expenses such as the seminar, all materials, food, and lodging are provided free of charge by the Ohio Masons. There is no cost to participating schools, except to provide substitute coverage where necessary.

How does MMSAP work?

MMSAP teaches each core team how to work with other personnel at their school to identify kids at risk, gather the necessary information about the child, and then develop a school-based action plan appropriate to the specific needs of each child. MMSAP provides specific strategies for identification and intervention in the areas of academics, health, behavior, and attendance. Teams also learn about locally available assistance for children who need outside help.

After completing the seminar, the core team teaches their fellow teachers and staff how to identify kids in pain and describe as specifically as possible what the behaviors and issues are. The team then gathers further information from other school personnel, parents, and the child before preparing a plan that will help the child find a road to success at school. Meeting on a regular basis, the core team gathers the necessary data and creates a plan that might include assigning a mentor or tutor, weekly visits to the school nurse or counselor, or other strategies specific to each child's needs.

What is taught in the seminar?

The seminar emphasizes experiential training, hands-on solutions that can be used every day in the classroom. After each concept is presented, participants roleplay, take part in activities, and work together to create a deeper understanding. At the end of the course, each core team uses the MMSAP process to help a troubled child at their school who is known to the team. They gather the data, do the necessary paperwork, and develop a school-based action plan for that child.

Very often educators already know how to identify children in pain, but they are not sure where to start or what to do about it. The MMSAP training emphasizes that intervention is a process not an event as well as the need to make a start-it took years for the child's pain to develop, and it may take a few years before a sense of success in some area of school life can be achieved.

Topics covered in the workshop include:

• Family dynamics
• Life Skills for K-12
• Enabling and codependency
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Depression
• Suicide
• Team work
• Group dynamics

What do participants get from the training?

In addition to learning a structured, objective way to help troubled kids with life skills, MMSAP participants learn about team work, what their individual strengths are, and effective ways to help kids grow.

Who originated MMSAP?

The MMSAP seminar was developed in 1984 by Larry Newman and Thom Stecher. Together, they have over 40 years of teaching, program administration, and therapeutic experience and consult regularly for school districts and Education, Health and Welfare departments.

How do I sign up?

To register for a session, complete the MMSAP Registration Form and fax it to the Grand Lodge (614-885-5319). For info or an enrollment pack, call (800)292-6092, or write to:

The Grand Lodge of Ohio
Attn: Masonic Model
PO. Box 629
Worthington, OH 43085