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September 11, 2025

Healthy Children Learn Better

September Content

- Poe Center for Health Education: Educator of the Year!

- SHAC Learning Collaborative 

- School Nurse Office Hours

- NACDD Launches New Online Training Series

- 2025 - 2026 Youth Health Advisor (YHA) application

- Health Education Regional Trainings Fall 2025

- School Social Work Webinar

- Supporting Teens with Depression and Eating Disorders

- NC Project AWARE and Character Strong Training

- Youth Mental Health First Aid Offerings

- National Farm to School Month

- September / October Health Observances

Poe Center for Health Education: Educator of the Year

What better way to kick off the NC Healthy Schools Updates! 

Marylaura Christopher-Rubin, Director of Student Behavior Health with Vance County Schools, was awarded the Poe Center's Educator of the Year Award for 2025! She was formally presented the award at the VIP Reception for their Annual Meeting on September 10th. 

Congratulations to Marylaura for all of her dedication, time, and energy she continuously shares with students, staff, and families. She has lead or been a key player for many projects in Vance County Schools including installing school gardens at 4 schools this past year, developing a Community Resource Center, assisting families when displaced by fire and other trauma, driving the school bus, and so much more...

Robin Pittman, Family Life Senior Director with the Poe Center, shared, "as soon as you meet Marylaura, you recognize her passion, energy, and love for her community and the students of Vance County. Over the past two school years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside her as she partnered with the Poe Center to provide health education for students, professional development for staff, and establish new school gardens at four elementary schools. No matter what is happening across the district, Marylaura brings excitement and positivity every time I have had the pleasure to work with her. She truly exemplifies the values and mission of both the Poe Center and Vance County Schools, and her dedication to student and staff well-being makes her more than deserving of being named the Poe Center's Educator of the Year.

SHAC Learning Collaborative

NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities for a SHAC Learning Collaborative.  These monthly meetings are the last Monday of each month at 3:00pm (unless scheduled otherwise, due to holidays, etc.) and are open to all SHAC representatives (or those considering joining a SHAC) to come learn more about what other PSUs are doing, hear about various resources, and share about your activities.

These meetings will primarily focus on SHACs and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. There will be opportunities to discuss general questions, e.g., building the team, partnerships, use of data, action planning, and questions relevant to your WSCC efforts.  Meeting link for monthly meetings.

Email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov if you prefer a calendar invitation. 

School Nurse Office Hours

State Nurse Consultant Office Hours will be offered September 12th and 15th. The intended audience is PSU lead school nurses. Please contact your Regional School Health Nurse Consultant for details. 

School Health Service Reports are expected annually from each PSU. Please see the School Nursing Support webpage for details including previous reports and resources.

NACDD Launches New Online Training Series: Advancing Emotional Well-Being in Schools  

NACDD just launched an interactive, online School Health course designed specifically for public health professionals, school staff, and others partnering with schools to improve student and school staff well-being. The Advancing Emotional Well-Being in Schools Training Series is designed to help participants deepen their understanding of effective emotional well-being practices, strengthen their ability to implement best practices and support schools in doing so, and gain practical tools to guide meaningful systems change.   

Whether you're new to school health and a seasoned professional, this course is your comprehensive resource for boosting your capacity to create systemic change. Choose to enroll in the entire training series or take specific courses that meet your needs. 

Click here to access the free training series. For more detailed information on how to enroll, view the quick start guide. Questions? Contact Heidi Milby, hmilby@chronicdisease.org.  

Youth Health Advisor Application (2025 - 2026)

The NC Division of Child and Family Wellbeing is excited to announce that the 2025-2026 Youth Health Advisor (YHA) application will open September 15^th

They’re seeking passionate high school students from across the state who are interested in adolescent health and wellbeing to join this dynamic, youth-led group.

YHA group is made up of youth aged 14-18 who partner with DCFW to:

• Discuss important adolescent health issues
• Promote health education among youth statewide
• Provide valuable insights to make communities and our state healthier places for adolescents

By joining, youth will gain leadership experience, contribute feedback and guidance on youth-related topics, and collaborate with various agencies and departments. Most importantly, youth unique perspectives will help shape programs that support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of young people throughout the state.

Stay tuned for the application opening September 15^th, use this link to apply. See the attached documents for application link and program description.  

For more information, please watch the introduction video on YouTube.

If you have questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out to Brianna.Session@dhhs.nc.gov.

HEALTH EDUCATION REGIONAL TRAININGS FALL 2025 September 17, 2025, 9am-4pm, Hickory SAFE Talk Suicide Alertness For Everyone, is designed to equip individuals with the skills to recognize when someone might be having thoughts of suicide and connect them with appropriate resources. HOPE Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experience focuses on shifting the conversation from the negative impacts of ACEs to the power of PCEs in building resilience and well-being.           Register: https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8rc4kdKqWpHi04e --- November 17, 2025, 9am-4pm, Southern Pines Substance Use Prevention  - This session will provide an interactive approach to addressing substance use prevention in your school community. Participants will gain practical tools and strategies to implement in their district/school to effectively curtail substance use. Social & Emotional Learning Interactive session designed to explore high-quality SEL practices, connect to local priorities, and leave with actionable tools to align SEL with existing systems and support sustainable student wellbeing.  Register: https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aboB4v53PKNAa3Q --- December 9, 2025, 9am-4pm, Greenville Mental Health for Students & Staff - Take a deep dive into practical strategies that go beyond trauma-informed care toward healing-centered engagement. Interactive activities will help participants foster connection, belonging, and resilience, not just in classrooms, but across schools and districts. Register: https://ecu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2cmI8Ko2OjhBPfg **Trainings are open to current teachers and school staff. Stipends will be provided to cover time away from the classroom. Substitute pay is available.**

Supporting Teens with Depression and Eating Disorders

Families for Depression Awareness is presenting their free webinar — Supporting Your Teen: Addressing Depression and Eating Disorders Together — on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM ET/ 4:00 to 5:30 PM PT. 

Join Families for Depression Awareness and the National Eating Disorders Association for a webinar exploring the complex relationship between depression and eating disorders in teens. Rocio Avila, LCSW-S will discuss how these conditions intersect, share practical strategies for supporting teens, and provide guidance on accessing appropriate treatment resources.

Register to join us for a live webinar discussion or watch on demand after it airs.

Please share information about the free webinar with your network and community!

NC Project AWARE and Character Strong Training

NC Project AWARE and Character Strong are sponsoring Carolina Compass: Moving the Student Success Needle Through Adult Behaviors.  To learn more visit the Training and registration link 

• This is a 1-day training on Character Strong's research-backed instructional framework to equip educators with easy-to-use tools that impact student behavior and school culture.
•  Date & Time:  October 14, 2025, 8:00am - 3:00pm / Sampson Community College 
• Breakfast and Lunch provided/No Charge to attend

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) Offerings

In partnership with the NC Department of Health and Human Services free public trainings are available for educators, staff, leadership, and family support staff providing services to North Carolinas adolescents 12 to 17 years. 

Target Audience

These free public offerings are meant to provide professional development for educators, staff, leadership, and family support staff providing services to North Carolinas adolescents 12 to 17 years, that supports ongoing learning in social-emotional development, and mental health.

Check out the dates and register here!

National Farm to School Month    Know a farmer who participates in farm-to-school? Help to spotlight them! Send their info so SMFANC can share their story and celebrate their contribution to feeding North Carolina students. Email info@schoolmealsforallnc.org.

September / October Health Observances Include:

• September is National Fruit and Veggies Month 
• September is National Suicide Prevention Month
• September is National Cholesterol Education Month
• September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
• September is National Food Safety Education Month
• September 29th is World Heart Day

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• October 6th  - 12th is National Mental Illness Awareness Week
• October 15th is Unity Day
• October is Bullying Prevention Month
• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• October is Health Literacy Month
• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month 
• October is American Diabetes Month
• October is National Farm to School Month
• October is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

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Or you can email Susanne.Schmal@dpi.nc.gov.