2021 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results Available
Recently released by the CDC, results of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) indicate that Montana students were struggling with mental health issues during the past year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent challenges. The 2021 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey Full Report reveals that 41 percent of high school students experienced extended periods of sadness or hopelessness (i.e., depression) during the past year, and 32 percent of students described their current mental health status as poor 'most of the time or always'. Poor mental health is defined to include stress, anxiety and depression. The topic of tobacco product use saw decreased use for all forms of tobacco products. The most significant decrease was reported by students who currently use an electronic vapor product - 48 percent in 2021 compared to 58 percent in 2019. The reported data is available by a) frequency distributions, b) Point of Interest (POI) graphs, c) 30-year trend data, and d) a comparison table of the student sub-groups. The survey identifies six health risk behaviors that have been found to result in morbidity and mortality - unintentional injuries and violence, tobacco use, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors, nutrition and dietary behaviors, and physical activity.
School-specific results, county-level data and maps, and more reports are available on the YRBS website. For further information please contact Susan Court, scourt@mt.gov or 406-444-3178.
Tobacco Use Prevention Grant for Schools
Do you have some creative strategies to reduce student tobacco use in your schools, but you need the funds to implement them? Thanks to funding from the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program, grants up to $10,000 per school or up to $20,000 per school district are available to support student tobacco use prevention in Montana schools.
The application period for this grant is open now but will close at midnight MDT on October 15, 2021. For more information or to apply now follow this link.
For inquiries about the application process contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or 406-444-0785.
“Stay Tobacco-Free” Coloring Pages
Follow this link to download free activity page templates for your classroom. These pages are intended to supplement elementary and middle school health and wellness lessons, reinforcing the importance of staying tobacco-free. Thank you for helping your students stay tobacco-free…for life!
Contact: Kris Minard, kminard@mt.gov or 406-444-0785.
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Free Pencils for Red Ribbon Week
Montana teachers can use this link to request free pencils for their classrooms just in time for Red Ribbon Week (Oct. 23-31, 2021). Choose between heat-activated “Tobacco-Free...For Life” pencils enjoyed by elementary students or shiny blue pencils for MS/HS students stamped with a reminder that nicotine is addictive. Supplies are limited, orders will be filled on a first come first served basis.
For more information about tobacco use prevention resources for your school, contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or phone 406-444-0785.
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Implementing Social Emotional Learning in Montana Schools: Community of Practice
Social and emotional learning (SEL) skills provide a foundation for everyone’s success. SEL skills include understanding and managing oneself, relating to others, and making responsible choices. Strong SEL skills are associated with: improved behavior, lower levels of emotional distress, enhanced wellbeing, improved academic outcomes, and more stable employment. As schools continue to respond and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the benefits of social emotional learning (SEL) are increasingly advantageous in supporting school efforts that:
- Address student learning loss,
- Manage difficult emotions in both students and staff, and
- Reconnect students and families to schools.
This community of practice series will guide schools through their process of reviewing, adopting, and implementing social emotional learning (SEL). The series is for school leaders who are taking their first steps to explore SEL implementation and to strengthen their current SEL programs. All sessions in this series will include a one-hour facilitated webinar with an optional asynchronous activity for continuing education units. Registration is now open and can be accessed here.
- 10/13/2021, Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 - Defining Social Emotional Learning
- 11/10/2021, Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 - Strengthening SEL Knowledge
- 1/12/2022, Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 - Strategies to Cultivate SEL for adults
- 2/9/2022, Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 - Learning the Montana SEL Competencies
- 3/9/2022, Wednesday, 4:30-5:30 - Planning for SEL Implementation
Please visit the OPI’s School Mental Health page to learn more about SEL and to download the Montana SEL Competencies. If you have questions regarding this community of practice series or the OPI’s SEL-related work, please contact Michele Henson at michele.henson@mt.gov or 406-595-1058, School Safety Program Manager, at the Office of Public Instruction.
School Safety Professional Development Grants
School Safety Professional Development Grants will open for submission beginning at 12:00 pm Noon MDT on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. The Legislature has provided a total of $100,000 for the OPI to subgrant to Montana’s K-12 school districts for 2021-22. Districts can apply for grants of $1,000 to $10,000 to conduct school safety professional development during this school year. More information on this competitive grant is available on the School Safety Professional Development Grant web page where applications will be submitted. Grants for allowable activities will be funded in the order in which they are received until funds are exhausted, with priority given to those who have not received the funds in the past two years. Join us for an informational session on the grant via Zoom, register for:
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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