Culturally Responsive Anti-racist Equitable (CARE) - InVESTING
Professional Development > Learning Paths > School Mental Health Readiness
In a culturally responsive school or district, students’, families’, and educators’ cultures are included in all aspects of supports and services that promote well-being and mental health. Anti-racist policies and practices promote equity and oppose racism and other forms of oppression. Equitable schools and districts provide the climate and resources that enable all students and educators to perform at their highest level. Culturally responsive, anti-racist and equitable (CARE) schools and districts embrace cultural differences and assets; use cultural knowledge to promote wellness and academic success; mediate power imbalances based on cultural identities; and work to dismantle systems of injustice.
The resources below focus on building a positive school climate and are recommended for schools or districts that have already done work in this area and want to continue to move it forward. You are ready for the “investing” stage of the CARE Pillar if….
This assessment from the National Center of School Mental Health is recommended for all stages of readiness in this work. This assessment contains five domains: 1) Teaming and Collaboration; 2) School Climate; 3) School Discipline; 4) Curricula and Teaching; and 5) Professional Development. Each indicator includes a few ways schools or districts may demonstrate success in each area. The examples included in the assessment are not exhaustive, but illustrative, and ratings in each domain can be used as a starting place for quality improvement initiatives. This assessment tool provides suggestions for action planning that can be tailored to meet your school’s needs. A team approach with broad and diverse participation in this process ensures meaningful assessment, successful planning, and implementation.
Provide info on how/where to access assessment
- 45 mins
When addressing trauma, racism, and equity the key lies within the racial consciousness and equity-centered approaches of district and school leaders. Use this guide to help teams reflect, ask questions, and explore where you are on this journey. This guide provides questions to ask and actionable steps to step to move this work forward. Check out the complementary video, which highlights a panel of school leaders in Illinois that can be viewed in team meetings or individually to prompt additional reflection.
- 60 mins
- Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain (Book)
This book by Zaretta Hammond helps educators promote authentic engagement and rigor among culturally and linguistically diverse students. Build team learning around these concepts, which include a transformative approach that recognizes and leverages the power of students’ cultural backgrounds to enhance learning. Use in schoolwide or grade-level staff book clubs or team meetings for shared learning experiences.
- 60 mins