HELLO FROM THE HUB!
The HUB is specially designed to serve our community and connect you to the rich array of K-12 school-based mental health events, activities, services, resources, webinars, trainings, policy and funding opportunities, and more, happening here in Orange County (OC) and beyond.
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YOU HAVE OUR ATTENTION
Steering Committee
More than forty leaders from schools, districts, and community organizations grabbed our attention when they came together for the Community Networking Project’s first Steering Committee Meeting of the 2021-22 school year to discuss what they are focusing on as they return to in-person learning.
Here are the top priorities many Steering Committee members identified during the October 14 meeting:
- “Identifying those in need without duplicating efforts.”
- “Implementing wellness screeners across districts to assess student wellness after the pandemic.”
- “Supporting vulnerable populations such as the LGBTQ+ community.”
- “Having a set plan for students and staff as we re-enter schools.”
- “Focusing on student behavior and mental health needs, and then seeing what staff can do and what resources can be utilized to alleviate those stressors.”
- “Addressing staff wellness as teachers and leaders are maxed out and do not have much time.”
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2021 Orange County School Counselor Symposium
Mark your calendars! The 2021 Orange County School Counselor Symposium will take place in an entirely virtual format and will be held at no cost on November 10, 2021 from 8:15 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. The Symposium theme “Reconnecting, Resetting, and Restoring” will focus on promoting excellence, equity, and access for all learners. Organizers are expecting a big turnout – over 600 counselors - so don’t miss this opportunity and register here.
Bonus: The Community Networking Project team will host a youth-led panel, “Hear from Students: Why Social and Emotional Learning is Vital to Academic Success,” as part of the event. Participants will hear directly from students about the importance of integrating social and emotional learning into the school community.
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#FinishForMentalHealth: NAMIWalks Orange County
Over 80 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapters will be participating in the NAMIWalks event this year. NAMIWalks is one of the top mental health walk series in the country.
NAMIWalks Orange County will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2021. “Let's continue to pave the way, showing others that we should not be afraid or ashamed to ask for help and finish strong for mental health.” The walk will follow the local health department COVID-19 guidelines. Register here.
Great Opportunity: There is a limited opportunity on a first come first serve basis to County Contractors to exhibit their program resources at the NAMIWalks this year. NAMI OC will provide each program with a designated exhibitor location, a rectangular table, and two chairs. If you are interested, please fill out the vendor registration form here. The deadline to become an exhibitor is Friday, November 5th by 5:00 p.m.
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Presenting the K-12 School-Based Mental Health Initiative Projects Webinar
School leaders told us that they are looking for student services to help build social and emotional learning and resiliency in classrooms. Mark your calendars to join this webinar hosted by the Community Networking Project on November 18, 2021 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., where you can learn about available services for students and schools. Funded by the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), these services are available to all Orange County schools and districts, and this webinar will provide information about how to bring them to your school.
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Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) Bullying Prevention Programs Offer Trainings and Resources for Students and Families
I’ve Got Your Back
I’ve Got Your Back is a two-part bullying prevention program designed to engage middle school students in building a more positive school climate and contributing to a sense of safety and security on campus.
- Part one involves the school administration team selecting 3-5 staff advisors and a group of 15-20 student ambassadors from different social groups who are viewed as leaders by their peers. The students participate in a 4-hour training to support and prepare them for taking a leadership role in bullying prevention efforts.
- Part two consists of a keynote speaker discussing bullying prevention during a school-wide assembly. The focus is on ways to empower students to stand up to bullying by recognizing it, reporting it, and seeking help when needed. Student ambassadors will also be introduced to initiate a pledge to create a positive, bullying-free environment.
OCDE will be scheduling student ambassador trainings and schoolwide assemblies on a first-come, first-served basis. To inquire about availability, please contact Jacquie Johnson, Project Liaison at 714-966-4473 or jacquiejohnson@ocde.us.
Cyberbullying and Digital Drama: How to Keep Your Kids Safe, Happy, and Healthy in the Digital Age
Intended for parents, this workshop will highlight the topics of cyberbullying and digital citizenship. Parents will learn about social media trends, information literacy, privacy and security, addressing and reporting cyberbullying, and parent/child communication. Strategies and resources will be provided to help navigate parenting in the digital age.
The workshop is available in English and Spanish. To schedule a training, please contact Jacquie Johnson, Project Liaison at 714-966-4473 or jacquiejohnson@ocde.us.
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Upcoming Webinars Hosted by The Priority Center’s Outreach and Engagement Team
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Stress Management and Coping Tips Webinar: Great Tips for Educators, Parents, and Other School Staff
November 3, 2021 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
What you’ll learn during the webinar:
- How to define the symptoms and impact of stress, with a particular focus on its effects on the body and the mind
- How to recognize when stress impacts your mental health
- How to increase empathy and the importance of self-care
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Bullying and Self-Esteem Webinar: Intended for School Mental Health Leaders
November 10, 2021 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
What you’ll learn during the webinar:
- How to define various types of bullying and to understand what bullying statistics represent
- Identify places where bullying is most likely to happen
- Explore the causes of why bullying occurs and better understand the perspective of someone who engages in bullying
- Manage and understand when your child acts as a bully or is the one being bullied
- Provide coping tips and resources
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Mindfulness in Daily Life Webinar: Everyone Can Take Some Time to Breathe
November 22, 2021 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
What you’ll learn during the webinar:
- The meaning of mindfulness and mindfulness practices
- The importance of self-care
- How to tackle daily stressors
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All webinars will have a 30-minute presentation followed by an additional 30 minutes for discussion and one-on-one skill-building breakouts tailored for participants. |
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RESET Toolbox
The RESET Toolbox includes no-cost trainings for families, educators, school/district administrators, K-12 students, community members, youth-focused organizations, and collaborative agencies. Check out the new additions to the RESET Toolbox:
The Family Tech Reset 2.0 Course
The Family Tech Reset 2.0 Course is now available at no-cost through the RESET Toolbox. Parents can take this self-paced course to learn how to set limits and rules around screen time, become educated about the dangers of being online, decide which apps and games are appropriate, and learn skills for communicating with children about cyber safety in a non-judgmental and loving way. Discover more here.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) School-Based Coping Skills Program
A Child and Adolescent Mental Health expert from CHOC created a virtual program to assist students who need additional support while transitioning back to in-person learning. Through the School-Based Coping Skills program, students will walk through pre-recorded, self-paced video modules that focus on various coping skills. Learn more and access the course here.
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Big Year for School-Based Mental Health Funding
It has been an extraordinary year for school-based mental health funding in the California state budget. On September 21, the Community Networking Project hosted a webinar on policy and funding opportunities, which focused on new funding streams, grants, and other resource opportunities that will support and sustain school staff services and programs in mental health.
You won’t want to miss listening and learning from state policy experts from the California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS) and the California Department of Education (CDE). Contact Gabriela Rodriguez at gabriela@reillygroupinc.com for the webinar recording.
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UPCOMING EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS: MARK YOUR NOVEMBER CALENDARS
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We Want to Hear From You! Want to share an event that advances student mental health? Let The Hub help. Whether an event, training, webinar, grant, or a “Zoom” gathering, we can help spread the word! We encourage you to submit items for future issues.
Share The HUB – Please forward it on to educators, staff, administrators, parents, families and students in the school community and community organizations serving youth and families.
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The HUB is brought to you by The Reilly Group as part of the HCA Community Networking Project, and humble editors: Colleen Reilly, Gabriela Rodriguez, Angela Castellanos, and Jenna Shaffer. We look forward to serving you!
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Funded by OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Behavioral Health Services, Prevention & Intervention, Mental Health Services Act/Prop. 63 |
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