The HUB: February Issue Part 1

Welcome to The HUB: February Issue! This is a jam-packed issue with school-based mental health news you won't want to miss. Part 1 features funding opportunities, no-cost trainings for educators and families, top stories, and programs for youth mental health and well-being. Part 2 – coming soon – will feature important dates in February such as Black History Month, National School Counseling Week, Random Acts of Kindness Week, and National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
50 Grants in 50 States: Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth
If you had up to $10,000 to make your school more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students, what would you do? The It Gets Better Project is funding 50 grants in 50 states to support projects empowering LGBTQ+ youth. Some school-wide project ideas include:

  • Building an LGBTQ+ section for books and other resources in your school library
  • Painting a mural or other art installation in your school highlighting local LGBTQ+ history
  • Providing LGBTQ+ inclusive training for your entire school staff
 
The deadline to apply is February 10, 2022. To learn more and/or to submit your project, visit this site.
Grant Opportunity for Orange County (OC) Mental Health Professionals
The Picerne Family Foundation is awarding fifteen individual $10,000 grants to mental health and other professionals in Orange County to support their efforts, programs, and the services they provide at their organizations. The Foundation invites accomplished and motivated mental health professionals and educators to propose “the project of their dreams” - a program they feel will have a real and lasting impact for their clients or students.
 
Who is eligible to apply? Licensed clinical mental health professionals, licensed professionals working in mental health settings, and educators and school counselors for grades K-12 are eligible for this award. Grants are currently being awarded to professionals working in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, California.
 
The application deadline is March 31, 2022. To learn more and/or apply, visit this site.
WEBINARS AND TRAININGS
Webinar Training Series: Implementing Identity Support Plans for Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, and Non-Binary Students
The State of California requires school districts to provide equity and access to transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary (TGNC) students at school. To ensure equity and access throughout OC school districts, the Orange County Resource Directory team has designed an Identity Support Planning (IDSP) tool to help school districts support TGNC students.
 
Join the Resource Directory for a two-part webinar training series where experts will share the newly released IDSP tool. The series will provide implementation guidance for the plan, advocacy skills, other strategies for supporting TGNC student, and an opportunity for participants to ask questions.
 
Webinar Training Series Dates and Times:
  • January 31, 2022 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
  • February 7, 2022 from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
 
Register for the series here.
New, No-Cost Trainings Available through the 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 latest additions to the RESET Toolbox:
Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Trauma-Informed Care Training for Teachers, Nurses, and School Staff:
One out of every four children attending school has been exposed to a traumatic event that can affect learning and/or behavior. Having the tools to manage traumatic stress empowers members of the school community and provides a more holistic approach to student needs. During this training, primarily designed for school nurses, teachers, or school staff, a CHOC Child and Adolescent Mental Health specialist will present an overview about trauma, how it impacts students, and tips on how to engage with students in a trauma-informed manner. Discover more here.
Center for Online Safety's Workshop: How to Keep Kids Busy Without Electronics:
The Center for Online Safety has created the How to Keep Kids Busy Without Electronics workshop for parents, caregivers, and professionals working with youth and families. Participants will learn how to set up a system to get kids offline and help kids to develop a healthier relationship with technology. Participants will be introduced to two resources to make it easier to start reducing screen time:

  • Ultimate List of Activities for Kids: The ultimate list of over 100 offline activities that young people can do mostly on their own.
  • Goal Setting system to help kids identify and achieve their goals: A template with seven categories like Health, Adventure, and Money to help children and teens think about the goals they would like to achieve and how they can strive to reach their goals. 

Learn more and access the workshop here.
IN THE NEWS
The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory: Protecting Youth Mental Health
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a new Surgeon General’s Advisory – “Protecting Youth Mental Health” - to highlight the urgent need to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis. The advisory outlines how the pandemic has impacted the mental health of America’s youth and families, as well as spotlighting mental health challenges that existed long before COVID. The advisory highlights a series of recommendations to improve youth mental health across eleven sectors, which include young people and their families, educators and schools, and media and technology companies. These important recommendations can be used as a framework or for educational purposes with your colleagues and leadership! 

State Seeks to Fast-Track Credentials for 10,000 Direly Needed School Mental Health Counselors
Due to the nation’s growing youth mental health crisis and a shortage of school mental health counselors, the California Department of Education (CDE) is seeking to bring 10,000 more professionals to campuses.
 
“I can’t think of anything more important right now in terms of dealing with the trauma that students and families have experienced. The reality is that there is a shortage. There just aren’t enough counselors at many schools and many communities.”
- State Superintendent Tony Thurmond
 
Read the full article here.
NO-COST PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: AVAILABLE NOW
Student Advocates for Mental Health Program 
Do you have a group of students who are interested in conducting a mental health awareness activity on your school campus? If you would like free training, supplies, resources, and support to create or promote an activity, look no further! The Student Advocates for Mental Health (SAMH) program can support you with all your mental health awareness activity needs. The in-person or virtual activity may align with National Campaigns such as Suicide Prevention Week, World Mental Health Day, Mental Health Awareness Month, or an original idea of your own. 
 
All Orange County public, private, and charter schools are eligible to apply. For more information, or to complete a participation interest form, visit the SAMH website.
K-12 Mental Health Ambassador Program 
Looking for new ways to promote better awareness of mental health issues, risk factors, and stressors? The K-12 Mental Health Ambassadors Program, led by Latino Health Access and OC LGBTQ Center, provides a series of in-person or virtual training sessions to build the capacity of students, parents, and school staff to address these mental health needs. The lead organizations plan to work closely with interested Orange County schools and districts to coordinate implementing workshops and activities. This program can be accessed now. 

If you are interested in bringing this program to your school and/or school district, contact Lisette Martinez-Acebo at lmartinez@latinohealthaccess.org
Teens Next Door
Teens Next Door (TND) is a fun and interactive virtual program led by Latino Health Access that connects OC youth to safe and healthy spaces where they can share thoughts and feelings that they may be experiencing during the pandemic, or any other personal circumstances. Activities and events are facilitated by trained Community Health Workers, who understand how to navigate challenging conversations and help youth and families in accessing additional support and resources.

Any OC youth ages 10-18 are welcome to join TND on Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom.

To join, students can email Nallely Enriquez at nenriquez@latinohealthaccess.org or call/text (714) 696-1126.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Browse Local Orange County Student Mental Health Resources 
Have you visited the Resource Directory? The Resource Directory serves as a one-stop-shop to locate a wide variety of student mental health resources in Orange County. Some of its offerings include:
 
 
Discover more local resources here!
STAY TUNED FOR THE HUB: FEBRUARY ISSUE PART 2!
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. 
The HUB is brought to you by The Reilly Group as part of the OC Health Care Agency Community Networking Project, and humble editors: Gabriela Rodriguez, Colleen Reilly, and Angela Castellanos. 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 OC and beyond. 
 Contact the Community Networking Project at gabriela@reillygroupinc.com
Funded by OC Health Care Agency (OCHCA), Mental Health and Recovery Services, Prevention & Intervention, Mental Health Services Act/Prop. 63