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“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation.”
-Glenn Close
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May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month
This is a great time to highlight the importance of youth mental wellness, to encourage involvement from the wider school community, and to spread the word about the impact of mental health challenges on youth. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has ideas to plan your Awareness Day activities.
The following resources can be shared to raise awareness and create action steps to improve the mental wellness outcomes of students:
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Protecting Youth Mental Health (The U.S. Surgeon General’s Report Advisory). This report highlights the current mental health crisis of America’s youth and provides action steps that we can all take to improve student outcomes.
- Learn about how COVID-19 has affected the mental health of students in Virginia: Virginia Update on Student Mental Health (Youtube video).
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the Toolkit for Schools: Engaging Parents and Families to Support Social and Emotional Climate and Learning to engage families in the development of positive social and emotional school climates to improve outcomes for students.
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Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) was developed by the CDC to assess the impact of COVID-19 on behaviors and experiences of U.S. high school students. The CDC released new data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) highlighting the magnitude of the challenges our nation’s youth faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The RISE Index: School Edition is the tool to help schools assess, prioritize, and plan key activities that promote the social-emotional health of staff and students.
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Take the Go Green Challenge! Download the NAMI Go Green flyer and share it with your friends, family, and co-workers! The Go-Green Challenge offers a self-paced, self-directed way to learn about mental health, mental health conditions, and take advantage of NAMI Virginia’s free, peer-led programming.
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DIY Green Ribbon Project: Download instructions to create your own green ribbons.
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Book and Movie List: Take an opportunity to learn more about mental health this month.
Nursing: It all began with Florence Nightingale!
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May 6-12, we celebrate National Nurses Week. Learn more about National Nurses Week History.
- National School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 11, 2022. School Nurse Day acknowledges the role health plays in achieving academic success in students of all ages. The National Association of School Nurses provides a social media toolkit and other resources to celebrate this special day.
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May 12, we celebrate International Nurses Day, and the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth!
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May 9-15, 2022, is National Food Allergy Awareness Week. Nearly 6 million children and more than 26 million adults in the US are diagnosed with food related allergies. Check out the cooking demo on Instagram for allergy friendly recipes.
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Self-care isn't just about finding ways to relax.
It's about taking care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. In order to care for your health and well-being, it is important to find a balance that allows you to address each of these areas. Sometimes you might need more self-care in one specific area in order to restore balance or find relief from a stressor in your life!
Below are some useful resources to live a well-balanced life and reduce everyday stress and anxiety:
For stress reducing strategies when you are away or on the go, consider trying an App on your phone or digital device such as Calm or Headspace. (Headspace offers educators a free subscription)
April Showers bring May flowers!
Making time to spend with family and friends greatly enhances a person's well-being. Break out the grill and/or take time out to celebrate these May 2022 holidays.
Kentucky Derby, Saturday, May 7, 2022
Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 2022
National Shrimp Day, Tuesday, May 10, 2022
National Nutty Fudge Day, Thursday, May 12, 2022
National Dance Like a Chicken Day, Saturday, May 14, 2022
National BBQ Day, Monday, May 16, 2022
Indianapolis 500 Race, Sunday, May 29, 2022
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Office of Student Services (OSS) Update
2022 Mental Health in School Conference Call for Proposals. This year’s conference will be held August 1-2, 2022. Presentations should focus on innovative, evidence-based, or data-driven tier 2 and 3 strategies that meet student's needs so they can THRIVE!
- Conference information and registration link coming soon.
May 2-4, 2022: Medicaid in Schools Training Series
The VDOE, in collaboration with the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) is offering a virtual training opportunity to address efforts underway to expand school divisions’ federal Medicaid reimbursement for covered school-based services provided to children outside of special education. Recording and training materials will be available on the DMAS School Based Services webpage.
June 21-22, 2022: Safe and Supportive Schools Conference (Virtual). Information and registration link coming soon!
July 18-19, 2022: Summer Institute for School Nursing, (SISN) This year’s theme is Transform, Recharge, Innovate. Join us in the beautiful Roanoke Valley for our first in-person conference in two years! SISN will be held at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia. Registration ($75/per person) and reservations at the venue will open soon! Participants receive 14.5 credit hours for Board of Nursing license renewal or National Board for Certification of School Nurses recertification.
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We are currently looking for someone to join our amazing OSS Team! If you have experience in multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS) implementation and a passion for systems-level change, please consider applying for our VTSS Implementation Specialist position. The application closing date is May 20, 2022. |
The Virginia Career and Learning Center (CLC) for School Mental Health Professionals (SMHP) continues to grow!
- Looking to draw more applicants for open SMHP positions? If you want to request access to post positions within the website please email Kristinne Stone at Kristinne.Stone@doe.virginia.gov.
School Psychology and School Social Work Symposium 2022 recording is now available. Go to the Learning Center tab, click on the drop down “By Conference,” and click on the title. There are six informative and exciting sessions you can watch.
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Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) Update
The VTSS is excited about the upcoming virtual professional learning opportunities for Summer 2022.
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Academic Tiered Fidelity Inventory, June 28, 29, 30 from 9 a.m. - noon.
Data-Informed Decision Making for Schools, June 28, 29, 30 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Tier 1 New Team Training, July 12, 20, 28 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Advanced Tiers, July 13, 14 from 9 a.m. - noon.
Effective Classroom Systems, July 19, 20, 21 from 9 a.m. - noon.
Tier 1 Trauma Enhancements, July 26, 27, 28 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
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RECENT SUPERINTENDENT MEMOS & IMPORTANT DATES |
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Superintendent's Memo #084-22: This memorandum provides information on eligibility for graduation requirement waivers under the Good Cause Waiver and Late Transfer Waiver and information about how to request such waivers.
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Superintendent's Memo #069-22: This memorandum announces the Jobs for Virginia Graduates (JVG) Competitive Grant Award Applications for School Year 2022-2023. The primary mission of the JVG program is to assist high school students who are at risk of dropping out of school or have other barriers to graduation and provides additional support that enable these students to graduate and to secure and retain quality jobs.
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Superintendent’s Memo #085-22: This memorandum announces the School-based Health Workforce Grant. The goal of this grant is to establish, expand, train, and sustain the school health workforce and support COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives. Information about the webinar and application is noted in this Memo.
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Important Dates
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Project Empower Webinar (William and Mary): May 13, 2022, 10-11 a.m. Hope is a vital element of individuals’ positive growth and development. Students with higher levels of hope experience reduced risk factors and increased connection to others, engagement in school, and success toward their goals. Attendees will gain practical strategies to incorporate into their direct service to students. This webinar is provided by Project Empower, a community-based partnership between William & Mary School of Education and local public schools.
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