CAN Health & Wellness Newsletter – Exploring Mental and Physical Health
August 24, 2021
Welcome to the first installment of CAN’s revamped Health & Wellness Newsletter! We will be sharing content surrounding the Whole Child Health and Wellness Vision and initiative, our Health and Wellness Action Team, as well as other approaches that prioritize the cumulative wellness of students in our Expanded Learning programs.
The past year has been full of unprecedented changes and shifts that have affected our youth in many ways. As students are returning to the classroom this fall, focusing on the physical as well as mental health of students is a priority. Creating a welcoming environment for students, building strong relationships, and encouraging emotional regulation are just some of the ways that youth can feel safe and supported away from home.
Explore these resources on how to prioritize the physical, emotional, and mental health for students, from the moment they walk into the door, this upcoming school year.
- 6 Ways to Check in with Teens – from the Center for Adolescent Studies
- 6 Must-Watch TEDx Talks to Kick Off the School Year – from Edutopia
- 51 Mindfulness Activiites for Kids – from Waterford
If you are interested in receiving these updates, sign up for the newsletter today!
In This Newsletter:
New Brief: Improving Access to Free School Meals
Healthy Eating Research has released a new brief entitled Improving Access to Free School Meals: Addressing Intersections Between Universal Free School Meal Approaches and Educational Funding on improving access to free meals.
The brief aims to:
- Provide an overview of universal free school meal benefits and approaches
- Summarize the intersections between universal free school meal approaches and educational funding
- Identify opportunities for policy and practice to address the intersections between school meals and educational funding in order to improve access to school meals.
Health & Safety Research on Learning in the Time of COVID-19
Learning Policy Institute recently released a newsletter, Health & Safety Research on Learning in the Time of COVID-19, sharing promising practices for safe school reopening.
Utilizing Funds to Prioritize Health and Wellness
Learning Policy Institute’s newest blog speaks on prioritizing wellness and accelerated learning during these trying times. Strengthening relationships is a top priority, and utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan and other sources allows for time and space for community and relationship building. The ultimate goal is to both lower the anxiety in returning to school and better serve students during this upcoming school year.
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Hosts Safe and Successful Schools Webinar
August 25, 2021, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Educators and school leaders are invited to join State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and guests, Dr. Naomi Bardach, State Lead of Safe Schools for All Team, and Linda Darling-Hammond, Ed.D, President of California State Board of Education and Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University for a presentation and questions and answers session about safely opening and operating schools in California.
Mental Health Primer and Toolkit
Transcend Education has created a Comprehensive Mental Health Primer and a Mental Health Practices Toolkit to address how to prioritize students’ mental health as they return to school.
Mental Health is influenced by a variety of factors, but the most common are:
- Environment within and beyond school
- Relationships with others
- Individual factors such as a young person’s ability to understand and manage their own thoughts and feelings
Explore these resources to see how schools can foster environments where positive mental health is prevalent.
Supporting and Promoting Mental Health in Out-of-School Time
The National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment recently released a new brief, Supporting and Promoting Mental Health in Out-of-School Time, that explores some of the current mental health needs of youth, families, and the OST workforce.
The brief specifies the importance in improving mental health in all environments and how afterschool programs have provided one outlet.
Quick Guide: Supporting Students Through Grief
As students prepare to return to their classrooms for the 2021-22 school year, many are processing grief after the death of a loved one during the pandemic. EdSource has created a quick guide on ways to help students handle their grief. Through activities, advocating for grief support programs in schools, and offering compassions are some ways that educators can help support youth going through a difficult time.
Tools for Substance Use Prevention and Intervention
The California School-Based Health Alliance curated School-Based Health SBIRT Health Guides to use while working with school-based health centers (SBHCs) to combat substance use and provide intervention for youth. SBHCs are aiming to educate and address underlying factors behind substance use.
State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2020
The National Farm to School Network and the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School released an updated State Farm to School Policy Handbook: 2002-2020.
This edition spotlights policy opportunities to support universal school meals, supporting BIPOC producers, and those that support farm to school response to COVID-19. The handbook offers a roadmap to learn about existing policies and use them to advance towards new legislation.
Sugary Drink Fast Facts
Voices for Healthy Kids, part of the American Heart Association has created Sugary Drink Fast Facts to inform educators, parents, and students the risks of over-consuming sugary drinks.
Read the full facts in the PDF attached below!
Check Out CAN’s Other Newsletters!
Access the CAN newsletter archives to view past newsletters today! You may be interested in some of our other newsletters as well: