Project AWARE Ohio E-Newsletter
"Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education"
December 2017
Mission: Cuyahoga Community Team works across systems to improve physical, mental, and educational needs and increase access to appropriate resources and services for youth in Cuyahoga County.
Vision: Cuyahoga County children and families will be socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and academically resilient and productive citizens.
 
December is meant to be a joyful time around the holidays. However, for many, the holidays bring on additional stressors. In fact, according to a report from the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of people report that their stress increases around the holidays. On top of the stress related specifically to the holidays, environmental changes and Seasonal Affective Disorder can be trying this time of year. Also, the high volume of celebrations around the holidays can make this a particularly difficult season for people facing substance use challenges.
 
Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress every day and can benefit from learning stress management skills. Most teens experience more stress when they perceive a situation as dangerous, difficult, or painful and they may not have the resources to cope (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry). Some sources of stress for teens might include:

-         School demands
-         Peer pressure and/or bullying
-         Changes in their appearance
-         Unsafe/traumatic living environments & situations
-         Moving
-         Death of a family member
-         Family financial difficulties

Here are some resources to use for your own information, and to share with staff and youth, to help manage stress and promote happy and healthy living.


Very Well

Visit Very Well  for an overview of common stressors and stress management techniques. You can reach the stress management table of contents by clicking here .

Some stressful focus areas on their site are:

-         Relationship Stress
-         Situational Stress
-         Students & Stress
-         Job Stress

Some resources on stressful impacts and management techniques on their site are:

-         Meditation
-         Low Stress Lifestyle tips
-         Effects on overall health
-         Spirituality
-         Fun & Games

Click here to read  Very Well 's suggestions on  The Top 10 School Stress Relievers for Students


Healthy Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics has shared a resource towards building resiliency which focuses on stress management plans for youth aged 12-18. To read the step-by-step article titled "For Teens: Creating Your Personal Stress-Management Plan," Click here

The PDF version of My Personal Stress Plan can be found by clicking here


Be Present Ohio
 
Be Present provides easy-to-use resources that can help youth cope better with life's stressors - day-to-day or in a crisis - and then take the steps to share with and support others.  The idea is to maintain your own mental wellness, and also to help you feel prepared to step in and make a difference when you see friends and peers who are struggling.  Also included is information about positive (prevention) programs - and even places you can go for help when things seem too big to handle.
 
Click here to view, download, & share FREE campaign materials. 
 
Click here for a sample mental wellness postcard available for download
 
Click here for more information on the Be Present Campaign


Action for Happiness



Click here for more information on Action for Happiness

 
Click here for Stress in Teens: Strategies to Identify and Manage Stress Brief

Click here for Identifying & Managing Stress in Teens December E-Newsletter 


System Navigator
Have you used everything in your tool box and not sure where to turn? Trying to connect with an agency or system and running into barriers. Need some direction on what services or supports are available? Unsure who to call or what agency to start with? Need guidance about what a system or agency can offer or their mission. If you have asked yourself any of these questions when working with youth or their families. 
 
The System Navigator is available to assist in removing barriers as well as to enhance communication between youth serving systems and school districts. The main focus of the System Navigator role is to strengthen cross system collaboration and increase partnerships to result in better outcomes for students.  The System Navigator does not provide direct service, but rather provide linkage, navigation, and consultation. This resource is available to youth and their families, school district administration and staff, building administration and counselors, and child-serving agencies and systems. If you would like further information, would like to request a district visit/presentation, or need to make a referral, please call or email Denise Pietrzak at  denise.pietrzak@esc-cc.org  or 216-525-2524.

Click here to see a list of sample System Navigator client scenarios



Students may show the following behavioral indicators that they are dealing with Anxiety and/or Stress:

-         Excessive worrying
-         Frequently asks for assistance with daily tasks
-         Needing reassurances about assignment correctness
-         Discontinuing efforts easily
-         Easily distracted & startled
-         Grimacing or rarely smiling
-         Appearing flushed
-         Cries easily
-         Increased speed of breathing
-         Shutting down and/or lashing out

There are several Universal Tier I PBIS strategies that teachers can use to assist students through their anxiety and stress in the classroom. Click here to view some suggestions.



Northeast Ohio School Counselor & Social Work Network
Next meeting: January 24, 2018  12:00-2:30 pm
Topics: 504 protocols, presentation, & discussion
Click here to register
*Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome
Resources will be provided to all attendees

Kognito Implementation Community of Practice (Co-Op):

This Co-op will create a group of school leaders who will help support one another in implementing the Kognito Suicide Prevention Trainings on their school campuses. OSPF and Kognito's collective goal is to build capacity and grow a community of leaders that promotes the wellbeing and mental health of all Ohio students in grades K-12.

Date: January 12, January 26, and February 9

Location: Online "lunch and learn" webinars

Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Registration: To confirm participation, please fill out our online application form by December 23rd by clicking here.


Kognito Ohio Campaign for Hope: Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative 

Free research-proven training offered to educators, staff and students to: 1) recognize when someone is showing signs of psychological distress or trauma and 2) manage a conversation with the goal of connecting them with appropriate support.

Click here  for FREE Online Training/Resources for Staff & Students

Understanding and Managing Trauma: Train the Trainer Workshop
Akron Children's Hospital, in partnership with Project AWARE, is bringing in Melissa McClain to offer a comprehensive training to school districts. This train-the-trainer is designed to assist schools by providing an in-house trainer that can better understand how students experience traumatic events and how to help them through these challenging time. 
Date:  January 31, 2018
Location:  ESC of Cuyahoga County
Registration:   Register on the Calendar of Events at the ESC website.  

Click here for more information and registration 


20
th Annual Summer & Beyond Fair: For Children & Youth with Disabilities

Sponsored by the State Support Team Region 3, come visit and talk with representatives from camps and organizations from around Ohio. For further information, contact Theresa Richardson at 216-446-3818 or Theresa.richardson@esc-cc.org or click here.

Date: Saturday February 17, 2018

Location: Woodside Event Center at St. Michael's 5025 Mill Rd. Broadview Heights, OH 44147

Time:10:00 am - 1:00 pm 

PAX Good Behavior Game Training
In an effort to prevent circumstances contributing to the Opiate Epidemic, the state of Ohio is launching a large-scale increase of the PAX Good Behavior Game in Ohio schools. This intervention teaches self-regulation in young people with dramatic effects on behavior, academics, and even long-term outcomes such as preventing mental health and addiction disorders.
Date: Wednesday, March 14, 2018  (previously listed as March 2) 
Location: ESC of Cuyahoga County
Click here to download the registration form. 
For more info, go to  www.paxohio.org 

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
Become a First Aid Responder and learn skills to identify, understand, and respond to youth with signs of behavioral/mental health concerns and crisis action steps to take to connect them to the resources available in our communities.
Available monthly or by schedule.
Click here for flyer.
Register Online at  www.esc-cc.org
Choose Professional Development/Calendar of Events.

Mary Wise, M.S.W., M.S.C.E., Coordinator | 216-901-4201 

Project AWARE Ohio is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education, the Center for School Based-Mental Health Programs at Miami University and the Educational Service Centers within three pilot communities: Cuyahoga County, Warren County and Wood County. It is funded through a grant received in 2014  through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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