Registration open!
School Environmental Health & Safety Workshop, sponsored by Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
- Nov. 5, 2025, virtual half day.
- Nov. 6, 2025, virtual half day.
Parent letters
Communicate with families to keep students healthy.
New youth mental health resource guide available
We are excited to share Hope on the Horizon, a youth mental health guide designed to support parents and caregivers.
This guide is available in digital and hard copy formats. It includes:
- Information on trauma and child development.
- Signs and symptoms of mental health struggles and suicidality.
- Practical, home-based prevention strategies.
- Population-specific resources.
- A large list of local mental health and healing supports.
Please help us get these guides into the hands of families. We are distributing 50 hard copies to counselors in each middle school in Pierce County.
For more information or to request additional hard copies, contact: Zoe Grieder, zgrieder@tpchd.org or Timieka Travis, ttravis@tpchd.org.
Free family event to support mental wellness!
Saturday, Nov. 8.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sprinker Recreation Center
521 Military Rd. S., Tacoma, WA 98444
Explore activities and resources that promote emotional wellness for the whole family, including:
🎨 Coping skills arts and crafts.
💬 Mental Health “Ask Me Anything” panel.
📚 Take-home books and games.
💌 Gratitude wall.
🎲 Social emotional learning games.
This event is made possible by funding from the Pierce County Behavioral Health Tax. The first 250 families receive a $10 gift card! Questions? Contact Zoe Grieder at zgrieder@tpchd.org.
Supporting students with asthma
Fall is a peak time for asthma attacks in children, with emergency visits and hospitalizations rising as school begins. Students may be exposed to more asthma triggers at school, like:
- Respiratory viruses.
- Pollen.
- Mold.
- Diesel exhaust from buses.
- Cleaning chemicals.
Share these helpful resource with families. Parents can support their child by sharing their asthma plan with the school, providing needed medications, and letting staff know if their child carries their own inhaler.
School staff can help by following clear asthma plans and knowing how to respond during an asthma emergency. A safe and healthy school environment helps students with asthma stay well. Let’s work together to create a safe and supportive school environment!
Respiratory illness
Respiratory illness season is here. Protect yourself and others!
- Get vaccinated.
- 2025-26 COVID-19 and flu vaccine are now available.
- Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu and recommended COVID-19 vaccines.
- RSV immunization is available to older adults, pregnant people, babies, and some toddlers.
- Vaccines are safe and effective. It is safe to get multiple vaccines at the same time.
- It is especially important for people at high risk to get vaccinated.
- Other measures you can take to prevent the spread of respiratory disease:
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands.
- Limit time around sick people.
- If you are sick, stay home.
- For more information, resources, and local data on respiratory diseases, check out our website.
Where to find vaccines
- Many pharmacies and doctors offer vaccines. Call ahead for availability.
- For vaccine clinics and events visit the Kid's Vaccine Page and Adult Vaccine Page.
- Childhood and select adult vaccines will be available at a recurring vaccine clinic at Multiculture Child & Family Hope Center hosting by Acts Pharmacy. Check out tpchd.org/kidsvax for dates, times, and registration information.
Questions? Email Anne Tu.
Playground safety updates
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently updated their Public Playground Safety Handbook. The last update made to the guide was in 2010. Revisions include:
Introduction
- Updated list of playground standards with new or revised standards since 2010.
- Updated playground injury data.
Equipment guidelines
- Added more references to technical specifications and testing.
- Updated recommendations on merry-go-rounds and other spinning equipment.
Surfacing guidelines
- New and updated surfacing standards.
- Clarification of loose fill surfacing guidelines, including addressing chemical hazards.
General guidelines
- Updated recommendations for fencing and gates.
- Updated recommendations on signage and labeling.
- Updated recommendations on supervision.
- Added more recommendations on addressing strangulation hazards.
Other revisions
- Updated figures and editorial changes to make the handbook easier to understand and use.
Questions? Contact Lori Karnes, lkarnes@tpchd.org.
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