What Is The Worth Of Our Children's Lives?

   By Michael Gray                                                                                                                                                                              
2getherstronger.org 
What is the worth of our children's lives??  
CARE Centers & Wellness Centers.EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS A CARE CENTER/WELLNESS CENTER that is staffed by a counselor and/or school psychologist. This center coordinates all mental health programs. It is a hub of the school and is extremely positive in its impact on school climate. Students are referred by: other students, teachers, parents, themselves (self referred), administrators, classified staff. We also work with students that are on “At-Risk” lists, in the foster youth system, coming back from camp/incarceration/ on probation.
Once the students are referred... a system of: in school peer counseling, CARE center led groups, CARE center individual counseling, outsourcing to therapists/psychologists if necessary, and school wide mindset curriculum (as stated in earlier parts of the manual) are used to meet the needs of students and staff. These services lead to a reduction in anxiety/depression conditions....Student attendance/achievement improves...new skills in accurate thinking/emotional courage/happiness/effort optimism/relationships are learned...Teachers are supported when students have a place to work through their situation...Parent workshops are designed to inform, motivate, and take action regarding mental health conditions. We work to break down any stereotypes, break through any negative thinking about outcomes, and break up any notion that we as a school are not going to work shoulder to shoulder with parents on these issues.
Another program that we do in our CARE Center is the “Who’s Your Person” program. This program helps identify who the adult or adults are on campus each student trusts. The program also helps identify students that have no adult on campus they trust. We use this information to speak with those students without a trusted adult and make sure they are; comfortable at the school, like being at the school, and discuss which of the adults they have met that they feel comfortable speaking with.  We then match up students with peer counselors and teachers that agree to be mentors. It’s another way to build relationships.
SO, THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT YOUR CARE CENTER/ WELLNESS CENTER TO DO
*Train and use Peer Mentors/Peer Counselors...they are a giant part of what is great about the center.
*Support Teachers through Class Presentations, Observing students, Consulting regarding students, Take Action on Teacher Referrals for students in need, and counsel Teachers themselves regarding their own mental health needs(we all have them).                                                                                                                                                
​*Support Parents through the Workshops, Family Counseling, Individual Consulting regarding their child, Referrals to outside agency if wanted or necessary.
*The biggest support is for Students.
AccurateThinking... Relationship Skills... Mindset... Personal Safety... Student-Athlete issues... Conflict Resolution... Alcohol/ Drug use... Academic Issues... Anxiety/Depression... Abuse... Self- Harm... Suicidal... Academic Problems... Family Problems... Personal Development... How to handle Stress.

There are approximately 1800 student visits a year. It causes me great distress as I think about all the schools that don’t have this Center. This is where it’s obvious to me that The American Education System needs to be messed up. Yes! Funding (Lack Of Funding) is a real issue!! Which is where the student, parent, educator, politician alliance comes in. But what is the worth of our children’s lives??
IT STARTS TODAY! 2gether we will!!
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