Catholic Schools Onward

Best Practices and New Opportunities as We Move Forward


MENTAL AND WHOLE HEALTH

(Please note that as current information becomes available this page will be updated – 08.11.2020.)

CSO Home  |  Introduction  |  Philosophy  |  Process  |  Checklist

 

Introduction

  • It is important to educate and support teachers, staff and families on how to help students successfully and effectively transition back into school in a healthy manner.
  • Students need to be in school to support whole health development. For the following reasons: Let us briefly say a bit more:

While school closures might have been reasonable as part of the early pandemic response, current evidence and experience support the concept that children can return to school in a manner that maximizes children’s health and minimizes risks from a public health perspective. 

Consequently, whole health including mental health is our focus. Supporting views include those expressed by the HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use (Dr. Elinor F McCance-Katz) and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) – Policy Lab. (Dr. David Rubin at policylab.chop.edu).

 

Philosophy

It is our philosophy, that through a holistic approach of mind, body and spirit, we provide necessary mental and whole health support along with interventions as needed for students to have a safe and effective transition to a new school year, as well as  provide additional support as needed.

 

Process

  1. Establish a safe environment to learn
  2. Recognize the signs and symptoms when a student is at risk
  3. Continue to emphasize the importance of mandated reporting
  4. Start communicating with the parents/guardians during the summer months to prepare the student to return to school from a social-emotional standpoint
  5. Working with the Intermediate Units to provide intervention
  6. Survey parents and providing resources during the summer and continue to check-in during the school year
  7. Help students work on coping skills and resiliency
  8. Helping teachers with anxiety that they might be facing and that administration will support them with training so they are reassured 
  9. Support teachers collaborating with each other prior to the beginning of the school year
  10. Provide an opportunity for a type of move-up day
  11. Share resources from…
    • CORA
    • Suicide prevention
    • CHOP

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