What is Empathy?
This animated video illustrates the concept of empathy. Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.
Learning & Instruction
Modeling and Instruction – Social & Emotional Learning Initiating Playlist
Schools play an important role in supporting young people’s social and emotional development. Districts and schools engage in many different practices to grow and develop students’ and staff members’ social and emotional competencies to help them be successful. Broad areas of social and emotional competence are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
The resources in this learning playlist focus on SEL instruction and modeling and are recommended for schools or districts starting in this work. Your school or district may be exploring this work and wondering where to begin.
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Ways to Communicate High Expectations to Students
This article provides an understanding of why communicating high expectations to students is important. Effective communication is key to conveying high expectations to students. It requires a clear approach that acknowledges their capabilities, sets achievable goals, and fosters a growth mindset. As educators, it is essential to strike the right balance between high expectations and support, ensuring students feel motivated and empowered to reach their full potential. The accompanying form from Cultures Connecting provides a list of ideas. Choose one that is a new strategy you can realistically implement.
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How to Build Students’ Resilience
As educators, we talk a lot about resilience—how students need it to bounce back from challenges, grit their teeth, and persevere. But what if resilience isn’t just about bouncing back? What if it’s about bouncing forward, adapting, thriving, and growing stronger with each setback? The good news is that resilience isn’t some mystical trait. It’s a skill—a muscle, if you will—that we can strengthen in our students. The strategies we utilize in the classroom are the ultimate training ground. Teachers can use these strategies to strengthen their students’ ability to cope with setbacks and frustration.
30 Days of Mental Health in the School Year
Understanding the A-B-Cs of mental health and illness is the first step to improving outcomes. Educators, parents, and caregivers can pledge to engage in 30 days of child and youth mental health during the academic year. Schools can be the place where we destigmatize mental illness and teach children and youth how to foster mental health. The goals of 30 Days of Mental Health campaign are:
To keep students’ mental health at the forefront of our minds throughout the academic year.
To remind educators, parents, and caregivers that recovery from trauma takes time.
To ensure that educators, parents, and caregivers have the knowledge and tools to promote positive mental health.
Mental Health in Schools
One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), behavior problems, anxiety, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. Yet, about half of youth with mental health conditions received any kind of treatment in the past year. NAMI believes that public policies and practices should promote greater awareness and early identification of mental health conditions. NAMI supports public policies and laws that enable all schools, public and private, to increase access to appropriate mental health services. Check out these websites and resources to promote and support mental health in schools.
Implementation of Universal Mental Health Screening in Illinois Schools
Illinois State Board of Education developed a strategic approach in 2023, which was supported by the release of a Readiness Tool to understand school districts’ capacity to implement universal mental health screening of all students in Illinois. The report is the next step to guide a phased approach to universal mental health screening of all K-12 students enrolled in Illinois school districts. Find the Landscape Scan on Mental Health Screening Practices report, Readiness Tool and School Screening Readiness report on ISBE’s website.
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School Mental Health Quality Guides
These guides from the National Center for School Mental Health provide information to help school mental health systems advance the quality of their services and supports. There is a unique guide for each of the seven domains of the SMHQ Assessment: teaming, need assessment and resource mapping, screening, teaming, Tier 1, Tiers 2 and 3 (services and supports), funding and sustainability, and impact. Each guide contains background information on the domain, best practices, possible action steps, examples from the field, and resources.
Centers of Wellness – Example of Mental Health Teaming
Read about how the Sacramento County Office of Education connect with students, families and school staff by providing mental health supports on campus. They work with the school community to reduce barriers and stigma regarding mental health issues and to increase access to care for students and families. The purpose of a Coordination of Services Team (COST) is to provide students equitable access to education by coordinating school-wide efforts to ensure that the overall system of support works together effectively. COST area of focus takes a holistic approach and includes academic, behavioral, attendance, social-emotional, mental health, and overall wellness.
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Protecting Youth Mental Health
Recent national surveys of young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges— in 2019, one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an overall increase of 40% from 2009. This 2021 Advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General is a public statement that calls our attention to an urgent public health issue and provides recommendations for how it should be addressed. This Advisory offers recommendations for supporting the mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults.