Partnering with Parents: Mental Health Supports and Resources


 

I attended the School Superintendents Association (AASA) National Conference on Education (NCE) this past week. Not only was I able to present a couple of sessions (as a panelist in a social media breakout and a co-presenter in a round table discussion on leading while female), I was able to attend several general and breakout sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I focused my learning on school safety, mental health, and additional ways to support our District. 

I started the top of this blog post with Alex Boyé's powerful "Bend Not Break" music video, which he performed for several thousand superintendents and district leaders for the first general session. His message was, "Change your words, change your life." He gave tips and actionable ways to help students change conversations about themselves. Alex Boyé shared how he overcame mental, sexual, and physical abuse and homelessness but also spoke to the constant battle he has in a breakout session. He reminds himself, as well as others, that we are all a 10, based on his new book You are a 10. He explains that we must replace trash-talk with talk about purpose, worth, and value. 

One of the "ah-ha" moments for me was when Boyé talked about the conference being a sunflower moment for us as leaders. “Sunflowers follow the sun throughout the day. But at night, they turn to each other for light,” he related. Attending this conference not only helped get DPS some national recognition but also helped me connect with leaders from around the county. Boyé's sessions and messages had a significant impact on us. Alex Boyé, along with many others, works to support teens and their mental health, and he partners with the Cook Center for Human Connection. 

The Cook Center for Human Connection has many excellent resources to help support families regarding their children's mental health. Last year we brought to the District parentguidance.org to families. This icon is located on our primary and parent resource pages. Their slogan is "We help educators help parents help their children."  They do this by offering free online courses taught by licensed therapists. Courses span a variety of topics, including bullying, suicide prevention, digital media, emotional development, anxiety, and more. The Cook Center for Human Connection also produces My Life Life is Worth Living which uses powerful stories which advocate for mental health, wellness, and suicide prevention--with the goal of "eradicating suicide." 

My Life is Worth Living, https://mylifeisworthliving.org/, has engaging animated stories around social rejection for being LGBTQ+, rebuilding life after an attempted suicide, living with depression, mental illness, trauma, abuse, and more. These resources are available for families to watch these stories, which engage teens side-by-side with parents, learning together and making conversations around these issues easier for both the parent and the child. 

As a District, student and staff mental health and wellness are critical to quality teaching and learning. We invited families to learn more about some of our county supports at our CCRESA Community Conversation Night on March 1st. Not only will families learn more about some additional supports, but they can also offer input into significant concerns or needs around mental health and school safety. Partnering with families is vital to supporting our students.






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