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OK State Dept of Ed sent this bulletin at 08/09/2022 09:58 AM CDT

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In this Issue

Comprehensive School Counseling
Crisis Prevention & Intervention
School Climate

Comprehensive School Counseling

Coffee With Counselors

Please join us for "Coffee with Counselors!" This is an informal time for school counselors from across our great state to come together for celebration, collaboration, and continued growth. We look forward to you joining us!

August 9^thfrom 9:00-10:00
September 6^th from 9:00-10:00
October 18^th from 9:00-10:00
November 8^th from 9:00-10:00
December 6^th from 9:00-10:00

Register in Advance (one sign-up for all sessions)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting (it will be the same Zoom link for all sessions).

Back to School Summer Series

Join us for the "School Counseling Summer Series: Back-to-School Resources." This three-part series will include training on preparing for the new school year. We will learn all about annual and weekly calendars, student outcome goals, the annual administrative conference, and more!

September 1^st from 3:00-4:00
September 8^th from 3:00-4:00
September 15^th from 3:00-4:00

Register in Advance (one sign-up for all sessions)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting (it will be the same Zoom link for all sessions).

Did you miss the Creating Data-Driven School Counseling Programs Summer Series?

It is not too late to watch the series!

We had over 100 school counselors complete the series and heard from many that this was the training they needed to take their comprehensive school counseling program to the next level. Before beginning, please take the Pre-Test

Session One Session Two Session Three Complete the Post-Test

Crisis Prevention & Intervention

SDE Helps in a School or Student Crisis

Have you ever been in a situation where a student is in crisis or your school is in crisis and you didn't know what to do? We are here to help! The SDE Crisis Team is prepared to help in any way possible. We offer technical assistance, consultation, emailed resources, and in-person counselors and other support volunteers. We help as little or as much as you need.

Last school year, we responded to 114 crises at schools. This was everything from consulting with a counselor on a student in a mental health crisis to responding to a school that had a student or staff member death.

If you or your school is ever in need of assistance, you can call the SDE Crisis Line at 405-397-7108 between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. to reach our team.

Professional Development Available

Did you know you can fill out the form below and request professional development from all departments of Student Support? We have training in School-Based Mental Health, Prevention and Intervention, and Comprehensive School Counseling.

We offer trainings on trauma, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, School Climate, Alternative Education, Suicide Prevention, Bullying Prevention, Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Sexual Assault Prevention and Dating Violence, Crisis Preparation and Response, How to Identify and Help At-Risk Students, Comprehensive School Counseling topics, and School-Based Mental Health topics.

We can come to you and provide a training we already have or we can create one based on your needs. Contact us soon to schedule a training because our dates fill up quickly.

School Climate

Welcome Back, Educators!

Let’s begin this new school year with a focus on caring for ourselves and each other.

The research is clear, people who work in a supportive environment are happier. (Zawawi Z., Yahya D., Mohd F., 2021; Burt, K., Eubank, J., 2021; Waters, S., 2021.)

What can we do to create a positive school climate to care for our staff? The answer is not just self-care but collective care.

Collective care is a system where staff feels safe, empowered, encouraged, seen, and heard.

The following infographic (click to enlarge) breaks collective care into four categories for schools: Support Staff, Support Staff’s Emotional Well-being, Foster Positive Relationships, and Implement Reliable Systems.

It’s time to think beyond self-care and create a collective of care and support among one another. Shonna Waters, Ph.D. wrote an article last year about social capital.

In her article, Dr. Waters describes social capital as “the value that comes from relationships and social networks.” The more valued your relationships and social networks become, the more productive and healthier your school climate.

One way schools can increase their social capital to support teachers is to create a Tap-In/Tap Out system. Check out this video from Falls Hamilton school in Nashville, Tennessee.

Tap in/Tap out is a way for non-classroom employees to support those of you in the classroom.

It’s time we normalize asking for help. Here is a protocol to implement Tap in/Tap out in your school.

AlcoholEdu for High School®

AlcoholEdu for High School® is a free, online alcohol prevention course that engages teens using the internet, videos, and project-based learning. AlcoholEdu has demonstrated outcomes including increased student knowledge about alcohol, improved student attitudes and behaviors, and reduced negative consequences associated with underage drinking such as riding in a car with a drinking driver. AlcoholEdu delivers a personalized experience to every student and includes a parental component. For more information or to get started at no cost please contact: Alicia Upton, aupton@everfi.com

Apply today to become a YAHL Partner

and help change the future and health of Oklahoma youth

Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), a program of the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative, is a statewide youth-led effort that partners with schools and organizations to make a meaningful and measurable impact on Oklahoma by promoting healthy behaviors. Students who join YAHL participate in comprehensive, interactive training that equips them to directly lead health initiatives in their communities to improve nutrition in schools and reduce tobacco use among youth.

The YAHL Partner Program is open to high school student clubs and organizations in Oklahoma. Partners can earn up to $2,000 for their organization while tackling important public health issues in their communities and across the state.

The YAHL Partner Program includes:

In-depth online orientation and ongoing support
Materials for ALL campaign activities and events -- there is never a cost to your club/organization or school for participating
Youth Field Organizers who will work with you and your youth to coordinate all YAHL activities, online and in person

For their efforts, YAHL members learn valuable leadership skills, as well as earn community service hours and rewards, like scholarships.

For a quick introduction to the program, check out our video!

TSET encourages current YAHL partners to renew their participation and new schools and organizations to submit applications for the 2022-2023 school year. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and only a limited number of clubs are accepted per school year. First advisor orientations are planned to begin in early August.

Interested? Fill out the 5-minute application at http://my.yahlok.org/register.

For questions or more information about the YAHL Partner Program, please email Joe@YAHLOK.org.

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Student Support Contact Information

Elizabeth Suddath, Assistant Deputy Superintendent
elizabeth.suddath@sde.ok.gov, (405) 521-2106

Jenna Jones, Executive Director of Comprehensive School Counseling
jenna.jones@sde.ok.gov, (405) 521-3263

Cheryl McGee, Executive Director of School-Based Mental Health
cheryl.mcgee@sde.ok.gov, (405) 415-5468

Michelle Strain, Executive Director of Prevention and Intervention Services
michelle.strain@sde.ok.gov, (405) 365-5764

Visit Us Online
Counseling Webpage
OKEdge Career Readiness Site
Family & Community Engagement Webpage

Additional Resources
American School Counselors Association
Oklahoma School Counselors Association
International Bullying Prevention Association
Oklahoma Counseling Association

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Please do not reply to this email. If you would like to contact the Oklahoma State Department of Education, please call us at (405) 521-3301. You can also find us online.