Health & Wellness Newsletter – Back-to-School Wellness
August 27, 2024
It’s back-to-school season! As youth development practitioners, youth, their families, and communities prepare to embark on a new school year, remember to prioritize your physical, emotional, and mental wellness like you did over the summer.
The back-to-school transition can bring about a range of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. Open conversations about feelings and stress management techniques can give students the tools they need to navigate their emotions effectively. Schools and families can work together to create supportive environments that promote resilience and positive mental health not only for youth, but for the adults that support youth as well.
Explore these resources on how you can make that transition easier and ways you can prioritize you and your community’s wellness this school year:
- SEL For Students: Self-Awareness and Self-Management from Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
- How New Teachers Can Set Healthy Emotional Boundaries With Students from Edutopia
- Understanding Emotions: 15 Ways to Identify Your Feelings from PositivePsychology.com
- Top 10 Stress Management Techniques for Students from VeryWellMind.com
The CAN team wishes you all a great 2024-2025 school year!
In This Newsletter:
Join Us for The Power of Expanded Learning to Support Substance Use Interventions and Health & Wellness Workshop
September 25, 2024, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
The California AfterSchool Network
(CAN), in partnership with California Youth
Opioid Response (YOR CA), is excited to
announce an informative workshop focusing on the
Power of Expanded Learning to Support Substance Use
Interventions, Health, Mental Health, and Thriving
Families.
Workshop Details
- Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
- Time: 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
- Registration & Additional Information
California boasts the most comprehensive system of school-based and school-linked Expanded Learning programs in the nation, encompassing before-school, after-school, intersession, and summer initiatives.
LIAS Blog: Self-Care Series
The Learning in Afterschool and Summer blog has published a three-part series to explore what self-care is, how you can intentionally integrate it into your life, and how to mitigate burnout in youth workers.
- Self-Care 1: What is Self-Care?
- Self-Care 2: Creating a Self-Care Plan
- Self-Care 3: How to Prevent Burnout in Youth Workers
Interested in going deeper? Check out the Self-Care for Youth Workers briefing paper!
People Can Change: Recognizing Our Potential for Growth
The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley has created a lesson plan on fostering growth mindsets in students. If students embrace the idea that everyone, including themselves, possesses the capacity to grow and change, it becomes more likely that they will view social challenges like harassment, bullying, and exclusion as obstacles they can overcome. Adopting a more adaptable, growth-oriented mindset can help some of the anxieties and pressures students may face, enabling them to approach social problems as challenges to be resolved rather than threats to be feared.
Teen Mental Health Showing Signs of Improvement
In an article from Education Week, reports show that teen mental health is showing slight improvements after a peak in challenges during the pandemic. According to a CDC report, the percentage of high school students experiencing persistent sadness dropped from 42% in 2021 to 40% in 2023. Despite this progress, the rates remain higher than a decade ago, particularly among girls and LGBTQ+ teens. The article highlights the ongoing need for mental health resources in schools, even as federal funding decreases.
What Teachers Really Need to Thrive
The article from Greater Good Science Center explores what teachers need to thrive in their profession. It highlights the importance of supportive school environments, professional autonomy, and opportunities for growth. The article also stresses the need for mental health resources, adequate compensation, and a sense of community among educators. These factors are crucial for helping teachers maintain their well-being and effectiveness in the classroom.
A 12-Minute 4-7-8 Breathing Meditation
Mindful shares Dr. Andrew Weil’s 4-7-8 breathing technique that can be used to for situations when one is feeling anxious, stressed, or may even have difficulty falling asleep. This easy breathing practice helps to release stagnant air in the lungs and find calm.
Suicide Prevention Month
September 2024
September observes Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14, the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24, and the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. By sharing stories, educating communities, and promoting open dialogue, we can break down stigmas, offer hope to those struggling, and encourage a more compassionate approach to mental health challenges.
Explore more resources on Suicide Prevention from NAMI.
Remember, you are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or harm, help is available. Call or text 988.
New USDA Standards Around Culturally Relevant Meals
The USDA’s new standards that emphasize culturally relevant meals in school nutrition programs went into effect July 1, 2024. These standards aim to reflect the diverse backgrounds of students and ensure that school meals are inclusive and representative of different cultures. The new guidelines encourage schools to incorporate foods that are meaningful to various communities, which can improve student engagement and satisfaction with school meals. This initiative is part of a broader effort to make school meals more equitable and reflective of the nation’s diversity.
How to Stay Safe During Extreme Heat
Heat is deadlier than any other weather hazard. The state of California wants you to be prepared for extreme heat events and provide resources to help you stay safe.
Explore these resources from the California Department of Public Health and the Heat Ready CA Campaign on how you and your loved ones can be prepared for extreme heat:
National Recovery Month
September 2024
September is National Recovery Month! Started in 1989, National Recovery Month is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible.
Explore this year’s resources from SAMHSA on how you can spread awareness this September.
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: