Resources to Improve Student Mental Health and Well-Being
By Lorrie-Anne Monte | October 2020
To help all children be successful in school and in life, it is vitally important that school counselors be knowledgeable about best practices to support mental health and well-being. School counselors also know the power of teamwork and how vitally important it is to collaborate with the resources available in our communities. Luckily, for school counselors in Connecticut, we have many excellent resources in our backyard.
One amazing resource that all school counselors should be aware of is the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut (CHDI). For more than 20 years, CHDI has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all children in Connecticut. With a specific focus on the areas of health, mental health and early childhood, CHDI works to solve problems and establish best practices. With regard to mental health, CHDI focuses on evidence-based prevention, early intervention, treatment and coordinated systems, and champions access to high-quality mental health services for children throughout the state. Currently, the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut coordinates three school-based mental health initiatives that are helping districts to increase the mental health services offered to children. Learn more about CHDI.
The School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) is a program designed to help students with mental health challenges obtain the help they need to reduce their involvement with the juvenile justice system. This goal is accomplished by educating school employees on how to identify students with behavioral health challenges, creating collaborative partnerships between schools and mental health providers in the community, and assisting with school policies and procedures that ensure that students receive the mental health support they need. SBDI is already working with 17 school districts and they are continuing to expand their outreach. Learn more and access valuable resources and visit the Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative.
Another important aspect of the work at CHDI is the facilitation and implementation of the evidence-based programs Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS; for students in grades 5–12) and Bounce Back (for students in grades K-5) in schools and agencies throughout Connecticut. Both group intervention programs are appropriate for use in schools and have been shown to reduce the negative effects of trauma, such as PTSD and depression. CBITS and Bounce Back are currently offered in 17 school districts and CHDI has the goal of continuing to expand the offerings throughout Connecticut. Learn more about CBITS and Bounce Back.
The School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) System is a free online platform that can help schools and districts create comprehensive and coordinated mental health systems. It was created by the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) and offers many free resources, including planning and assessment tools. CHDI offers free technical support to schools and districts using the SHAPE System. Learn more about the SHAPE System and access resources and visit the SHAPE System website.
Another amazing resource is the University of Connecticut Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy. The Institute offers excellent information and resources regarding serving the needs of the whole child. Specifically, they offer critical information about the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and the vital link between health and learning. They provide details about the WellSAT WSCC, which can measure school wellness policy. Learn more about the Institute’s initiatives and resources.
The Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers is another resource that is chock-full of mental health resources for schools. Read about their offerings here.
One final resource of vital importance in Connecticut is the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Marc Brackett and his awesome team have been working tirelessly for years to make Connecticut the first emotionally intelligent state. Their social emotional learning program, RULER, has been adopted by many districts throughout the state, and they are offering a free, 10-hour online course called “Social and Emotional Learning in Times of Uncertainty and Stress: Research-Based Strategies” to all educators in Connecticut. Learn more about RULER and the free course.
One amazing resource that all school counselors should be aware of is the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut (CHDI). For more than 20 years, CHDI has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all children in Connecticut. With a specific focus on the areas of health, mental health and early childhood, CHDI works to solve problems and establish best practices. With regard to mental health, CHDI focuses on evidence-based prevention, early intervention, treatment and coordinated systems, and champions access to high-quality mental health services for children throughout the state. Currently, the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut coordinates three school-based mental health initiatives that are helping districts to increase the mental health services offered to children. Learn more about CHDI.
The School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) is a program designed to help students with mental health challenges obtain the help they need to reduce their involvement with the juvenile justice system. This goal is accomplished by educating school employees on how to identify students with behavioral health challenges, creating collaborative partnerships between schools and mental health providers in the community, and assisting with school policies and procedures that ensure that students receive the mental health support they need. SBDI is already working with 17 school districts and they are continuing to expand their outreach. Learn more and access valuable resources and visit the Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative.
Another important aspect of the work at CHDI is the facilitation and implementation of the evidence-based programs Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS; for students in grades 5–12) and Bounce Back (for students in grades K-5) in schools and agencies throughout Connecticut. Both group intervention programs are appropriate for use in schools and have been shown to reduce the negative effects of trauma, such as PTSD and depression. CBITS and Bounce Back are currently offered in 17 school districts and CHDI has the goal of continuing to expand the offerings throughout Connecticut. Learn more about CBITS and Bounce Back.
The School Health Assessment and Performance Evaluation (SHAPE) System is a free online platform that can help schools and districts create comprehensive and coordinated mental health systems. It was created by the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) and offers many free resources, including planning and assessment tools. CHDI offers free technical support to schools and districts using the SHAPE System. Learn more about the SHAPE System and access resources and visit the SHAPE System website.
Another amazing resource is the University of Connecticut Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy. The Institute offers excellent information and resources regarding serving the needs of the whole child. Specifically, they offer critical information about the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and the vital link between health and learning. They provide details about the WellSAT WSCC, which can measure school wellness policy. Learn more about the Institute’s initiatives and resources.
The Connecticut Association of School Based Health Centers is another resource that is chock-full of mental health resources for schools. Read about their offerings here.
One final resource of vital importance in Connecticut is the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Marc Brackett and his awesome team have been working tirelessly for years to make Connecticut the first emotionally intelligent state. Their social emotional learning program, RULER, has been adopted by many districts throughout the state, and they are offering a free, 10-hour online course called “Social and Emotional Learning in Times of Uncertainty and Stress: Research-Based Strategies” to all educators in Connecticut. Learn more about RULER and the free course.