At Bowling Green City Schools (BGCS), we believe in focusing on the whole child, ensuring that every student feels physically and emotionally safe and connected to their school community. The mission of our Student Wellness program is to help students reach their full potential by fostering a sense of belonging and providing a comprehensive range of wellness services. Our student wellness services operate on three tiers of support: school-wide, classroom, and individual systems of support.
In partnership with the Wood County Educational Service Center, the ADAMHS Board, the
Children’s Resource Center, and other community organizations, BGCS has established a robust student wellness and success plan. This initiative provides students with access to essential physical and mental health services.
Key Components of Our Wellness Services
Prevention Education: Our partnership with the Wood County Educational Service Center brings a full- time prevention educator to the district, focusing on preventing alcohol, tobacco, and drug use among students.
Mental Health Services: Collaborating with the Children’s Resource Center, we offer mental health therapy and case management to support the emotional well-being of our students and their families. Our district also uses SOS to teach suicide prevention to students in grades 6-12. Both programs are evidence-based youth suicide prevention programs that teach middle and high school students how to identify warning signs of suicide and depression.
Nursing Services: With dedicated nurses in each school building, we ensure timely responses to injuries and illnesses, along with the early identification of at-risk symptoms. Staff also receive training on crucial health topics such as AED use, seizure action plans, diabetic management, EpiPen administration, mental health, and trauma-informed education.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS): PBIS uses evidence-based practices to create a positive school culture and learning environment. By clearly defining and rewarding positive behaviors, PBIS helps build intrinsic motivation in students, leading to a positive learning environment.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): SEL helps students and adults acquire the skills to manage emotions, set positive goals, show empathy, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. We promote SEL through:
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Climate: Creating a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment.
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Direct Instruction: Using programs like Second Step, COPE, and DARE to teach SEL skills.
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Infusion: Integrating SEL skills throughout the day via modeling and teaching opportunities.
Wellness Coordination: A coordinator of student wellness and community outreach organizes all services within our wellness program, ensuring comprehensive support for our students.
The Whole Child Framework
Our wellness program is based on the five tenets of Ohio’s Whole Child Framework, which asserts that students are more likely to succeed when they are healthy, feel safe, are supported by strong relationships, are challenged, and are engaged in meaningful learning.
Impact of Student Wellness Services
These initiatives are expected to enhance attendance rates and learning outcomes by addressing students physical and mental health needs, ensuring they stay engaged and thriving in school.
For more information about our student wellness services click here.
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