social & emotional learning - Initiating

Professional Development > Learning Paths > School Mental Health Readiness

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 below are recommended for schools or districts starting in this work. Your school or district may be exploring this work and wondering where to begin. 

 

This document includes sample letter and survey items to learn from school staff about their perceptions and experiences of social and emotional learning and implementation support so far.

This course provides an overview of the importance of adult social and emotional learning to student success and well-being in school and life. This course will help you and your school team to:

  • define adult social and emotional learning (SEL)

  • describe why adult SEL is critical to educators’ practice

  • explain the importance of developing adult SEL through an equity lens

  • apply five specific strategies to enhance your SEL competency.

Overhead view of colleagues in a work meeting using laptops and tablets, emphasizing teamwork and technology.

Some of the most common frameworks for organizing student supports are Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Adopting schoolwide SEL does not mean that a school must abandon these existing frameworks. Rather, schoolwide SEL offers an opportunity to enhance or refine existing systems of support. This guide from CASEL defines Schoolwide SEL, MTSS, and PBIS, then describes how these frameworks can align with and complement one another.

This 60-minute webinar, recorded on September 27, 2023, offers practical guidance on navigating the Illinois School-Based Medicaid program to enhance student well-being and academic success. Targeted toward district administrators, finance staff, school health service and/or Medicaid program managers, and providers, it covers crucial aspects of Medicaid reimbursements for school-based mental health services. Topics include an overview of School-Based Medicaid, the Illinois State Plan Amendment, recent federal policy updates, and helpful resources. Participants will gain clarity on compliance, documentation, and strategies to secure funding that supports students’ health and learning outcomes.
This course explores the evidence-based Tier 2 trauma interventions Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and Bounce Back, helping you determine if they fit your students’ needs. You’ll learn about selection criteria, expectations, and available supports for clinicians who may attend future training in these interventions. The session also covers best practices for forming groups and building readiness for Tier 2 trauma interventions. By reflecting on these strategies, you’ll be equipped to effectively implement trauma-informed practices in your school or district.
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