Health & Wellness Newsletter – Preparing for a Healthy New School Year
August 24, 2022
Welcome to this month’s Health & Wellness Newsletter! The start of a new school year is a busy time for families, students and teachers. Parents are focused on gathering all of the essentials their kids will need for the first time at school or entering a new grade, teachers are busy preparing their classrooms for in-person instruction, and kids are excited to see their friends again! For all, it’s an important time to rejoin the activities that enrich their lives.
In addition to signing up for sports activities and collecting school supplies, parents should remember to schedule COVID-19 vaccines, especially during August, which is National Immunization Month!
This month, CAN partnered with VA58 to hold a virtual briefing on what you should know about COVID-19 as you return back to school. You can explore those resources here.
Let’s work together to give our students the best school experience possible! Learn more about vaccines and how you can schedule an appointment near you at MyTurn.ca.gov.
National Immunization Month Resources:
In This Newsletter:
Post VA58 Briefing – Information & Resources
The California AfterSchool Network
was excited to partner with Vaccinate ALL 58 and
the CA Department of Public Health, for all
the latest information and resources for our youngest
Californians on Thursday, August 18, 2022, in a virtual brief.
Please note, this brief focuses specifically
on COVID vaccinations, only. For information and resources
on other COVID-related items, such as testing or masking
requirements, please visit the
CDC website.
Listos California Impact Report: A People-Centered Movement to Build Disaster Resilience
Report
Public Health Institute’s Center on Disability’s work in three California communities is featured in Listos California Impact Report: A People-Centered Movement to Build Disaster Resilience, which highlights successful strategies to support the state’s diverse and most vulnerable populations to prepare for disasters like wildfires, earthquakes and floods, and for public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Change for Good 2022: Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
Wednesday, September 14, 2022; 9:00 AM PST
Healthy Schools Campaign is inviting you to their annual Change for Good forum, a virtual event highlighting important efforts to address the national crisis in student mental health. This event will explore what HSC is doing to prioritize student mental health and support expansion of school health services across the country, and an engaged audience of leaders from the health, education, environmental, civic and grassroots communities will be on hand to listen and offer ideas and solutions.
6th Annual Student Mental Wellness Conference
Wednesday, September 14 - Thursday, September 15, 2022; San Diego, CA
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond invites educators and school district leadership to join attendees from across the US, Canada, the UK, and beyond for the 6th Annual Student Mental Wellness Conference to unify and lead the global student mental health movement!
SBHC Naloxone Training
Tuesday, September 20, 2022; 11:00 AM PST
California School-Based Health Alliance (CSHA) is offering a training for all SBHC staff on how to administer Naloxone. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that reverses an opioid overdose with little risk. Learn about why it is important to have, how to administer it, and how to obtain it for free. Then hear from a SBHC about how they integrate Naloxone into their SHBC, including how they train staff, how they talk with patients about it, and how they distribute it.
Tuesday, September 20, 2022; 11:00 AM PST
More Sleep Could Improve Many U.S. Teenagers’ Mental Health
Article
Most American teenagers are sleep deprived; less than 1 in 4 teenagers gets the recommended 8 hours of sleep each night. PRB’s article explores the connection between lack of sleep and depression in teenagers, as well as how the scientific evidence backing this claim led to the new California law that bars most high schools from starting before 8:30am.
CACFP Training
Through USDA Food Nutrition Service guidance and collaboration, the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) has developed CACFP training materials. The training materials are designed to support CACFP professionals in successfully implementing the program’s requirements.
Get the Cal Meal for Kids Mobile App!
Download the California Meals for Kids mobile app today! The app makes it easy for families and caregivers to find summer and afterschool meal locations. Find sites by physical location, custom map, county, city, ZIP code, and partial site name.
Mental Health Disorders and Teen Substance Use
Article
Child Mind Institute’s article “Mental Health Disorders and Teen Substance Use” explores the link between mental health disorders and substance abuse in teens. When teens are upset or angry, they will turn to drugs and alcohol, but since teenager’s brains are still being developed, this use can lead to a substance abuse disorder much quicker and other issues for preexisting mental disorders. Experts note that to encourage teens to reduce or stop substance use, it is crucial to give them other coping strategies to manage their problems without turning to substances.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Substance Abuse
Article
Talking to teenagers about drugs and alcohol is important. Read Child Mind Institute’s article “How to Talk to Your Teen About Substance Abuse” to learn how clear rules and structure can help your child understand the dangers of substance abuse.
Two Things You Must do to Increase Student Engagement & Movement by 50%
Promoting Health & Wellness with Skillastics
Do you have trouble getting
children and youth motivated to move? It’s SO
IMPORTANT to encourage kids to be active early in their
life. This will equip them with positive habits and skills
that will serve them for a lifetime. However, technology and
other sedentary practices have contributed to stunting our
student’s desire to move. How can you inspire students to
move their bodies when they are not very motivated to exercise?
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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: