Mental Health Matters
Volume 15 | March 2026
2025-2026 Virtual Offerings from the MDE LGBTQ+ Students Project
LGBTQ+ students are still at disproportionate risk for persistent bullying, harassment, and victimization. In response to requests from school districts across Michigan, the MDE LGBTQ+ Students Project staff created a suite of online professional development workshops to build the capacity of schools to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive culture and climate where all students can thrive. The MDE LGBTQ+ Students Project is honored to partner with school districts and parents to make these highly requested workshops available to school staff for the 2025-26 school year.
Use this link to learn more about and register for session offerings.
Universal Screening: Supporting the Whole Child
Universal Screening is our proactive "check-up" for student success. Just as we screen for reading or math, we use a systematic process to identify students who may need extra support in academic, behavioral, or social-emotional areas.
Why We Screen
Early Detection: Identify students at risk before challenges become crises.
Resource Alignment: Connect students to Tier 2 or 3 interventions quickly.
Core Strength: Ensure at least 80% of students are succeeding with universal (Tier 1) instruction.
The Power of SEBH Screening
To help every student reach their full potential, Social-Emotional-Behavioral Health (SEBH) screening is essential. By focusing on prevention, we can provide support earlier, ultimately reducing the need for more intensive, individualized interventions later.
Is your district ready to start? If you are engaged in MTSS SEBH and haven’t yet implemented a universal screener, we are here to help! Reach out to Kent ISD’s Social-Emotional-Behavioral Health Consultant or our MTSS Consultants for guidance on selection and implementation.
RP for Leaders - March 10th!
Ready to take your Restorative Practice (RP) skills to the next level? This advanced professional development is designed for leaders and administrators who want to master high-level responsive skills and manage complex group dynamics.
Is this for me?
This session is ideal for:
Administrators & Leaders: Those who regularly manage conflict, de-escalation, and resolution.
Systems-Thinkers: Individuals committed to systemic RP implementation across an entire organization.
What You’ll Master
Participants will move beyond the basics to focus on complex interactions:
Advanced Conferencing: Mastering restorative techniques for both students and adults.
Core Feature Review: A deep dive into the fundamental principles of RP.
Responsive Practice: Implementing sophisticated and timely strategies.
Systemic Strategy: Learning how to embed RP principles into the fabric of your entire system.
Space is limited for this advanced session. Please use this link to secure your spot today!
The Michigan SEL Alliance (MiSELA)
Looking to strengthen the "Heart of SEL" in your school or district? The Michigan Social Emotional Learning Alliance (MiSELA) provides a centralized platform for Michigan educators and administrators to access evidence-based research, professional learning, and implementation tools.
Why It Matters for Educators & Administrators
Adult SEL First: MiSELA emphasizes that educators must enhance their own social-emotional skills to effectively model them for students.
Systemic Alignment: Access resources that align SEL with Michigan’s School Improvement Framework and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports).
Statewide Networking: Join "Communities of Practice" to connect with other Michigan leaders sharing strategies for high-quality SEL implementation.
Quick-Start Resources
Free Professional Learning: Access nine Michigan Virtual SEL courses covering topics like Trauma-Informed SEL, Equity, and Schoolwide Implementation.
Introductory SEL Course: A specialized pathway for districts beginning their SEL journey, featuring core competencies defined by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE).
The Michigan Model for Health™: Explore how this CASEL-certified curriculum bridges health education with core SEL competencies for K-12 students.
Building a Foundation of Strength: Resilience as a Core Trauma-Informed Practice
Building resilience is a core component of trauma-informed practice, allowing students to "bounce back" from negative events and disruptions through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility. By cultivating resilience, we can help protect students from developing mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
Every member of our school community plays a role in fostering this growth. Here are five research-based strategies you can integrate into your daily interactions with students:
Practice Coping & Emotion Regulation: Help students recognize and label their emotions and how they feel physically. Provide low-stress opportunities to practice deep breathing, visualization, or art so they are ready to use these tools during high-stress moments.
Model Healthy Thinking Patterns: Help students identify unhelpful or rigid thinking. Encourage them to visualize positive outcomes before a test or presentation to foster an optimistic outlook.
Teach Self-Care: Emphasize the importance of sleep, nutrition, and movement. Modeling your own self-care during stressful times provides a powerful cue for students on how to respond to challenges.
Nurture a Positive View of Self: Help students identify their strengths and times they have successfully solved problems in the past. This builds "self-efficacy"—the belief that they can influence their environment to achieve goals.
Increase Social Connection: Resilience is strengthened through positive relationships. Integrate opportunities for peer interaction, volunteering, or simply lending a nonjudgmental, empathetic ear during passing times.
By prioritizing these five strategies, we move beyond simply reacting to student distress and instead build a trauma-informed foundation of resilience that empowers students to navigate challenges with flexibility and strength.
