GISD Whole Child Update

Communication and opportunities to collectively support and address the social-emotional, physical, health, and safety needs of students, families, and staff.

Welcome to the second edition of the GISD Whole Child Update ! In an effort to efficiently communicate with school professionals and community partners with diverse and often overlapping interests and needs, we are launching this newsletter. Hopefully this will be a timely and inclusive tool for resources, professional learning, and much more. The content will be aligned with the 12 components of the GISD Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model, a modified version of the ASCD/CDC model of the same name.

• Wondering what this "model" is? Checkout the GISD Whole Child Framework Summary
• Interested in contributing content? Contact Judy Fridline from GISD Health, Safety & Nutrition Services at jfridlin@geneseeisd.org.
• Want to learn more about the Whole Child Model and how each of us contributes to supporting our students? Contact Steve Polega, GISD Assistant Superintendent of Special Education, spolega@geneseeisd.org

We hope you enjoy and find benefit from the information shared!

• Project Healthy Minds: Resources

• National Alliance on Mental Illness-Genesee County Chapter
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
• Mindfulness and Stress Resilience Guide
• Michigan 211 helps to connect individuals to a variety of services, including mental health providers.

The start of a new school year is a wonderful time to set new goals. These goals often fall into one of the following categories.

PROFESSIONAL: Get a promotion. Invent or promote a new product or management technique. Do more public speaking. Be an ambassador for your organization, make a positive impact in your community, profession, or sphere of influence.

PERSONAL: Take a family trip. Write a book. Start a new degree, learn a foreign language, or fulfill a longtime ambition like skydiving, scuba diving or snorkeling. Taking contemporary dance classes is another option. Build your dream house or vacation home.

PHYSICAL: Commit to participating in thirty minutes of physical exercise every day. Varying the type of activity (walking, swimming, weight training, or in-line skating) will help keep you engaged.

What goals would you like to set for yourself to enhance and promote your well-being?

Click the button below for specific ideas and resources to support your efforts!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It’s also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope.

During September, and throughout the year, we can care about suicide prevention; connect to community, culture, data, and research; and collaborate with others to address this public health problem that has impacted millions of Americans.

Click the orange buttons below for information and resources to learn more and share with others.

Join school and community partners from across the county on October 15, 2024 at Genesys Conference Center for the second annual Genesee County Mental Health Symposium. Dr. Angela Pharris will speak on The Science of Power & Hope. Space is limited and registration is required. See the image below for additional details so that you may mark your calendars.

Sometimes you just don't know where to turn. You may not feel that you are in crisis, but you need to talk to someone soon. Or, you or your family might be experiencing what feels like a crisis. GHS offers many options to help meet you where you are at, in a way that feels right for you. If you are experiencing an emergency, please contact emergency services by calling 911.

GHS Phone Crisis Line

Call us 24/7/365 at (810) 257-3740

Text Crisis Line

Text FLINT to 741741 24 hours a day.

Walk In Behavioral Health Urgent Care
422 W. 4th Avenue, Flint
(810) 496-5500
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM, last walk-in taken at 10:30 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM, last walk-in taken at 5:00 PM

Virtual Urgent Care-Video Chat
Call us 24/7/365 at (810) 496-5500 to get connected

Not sure what you need?

Start by calling or texting GHS and they will help guide you toward the services you need.

Lapeer County Community Mental Health offers a variety of services and supports for adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness. Mobile Intensive Crisis Stabilization Services are available for adults and children needing short-term crisis services. Come in to Lapeer CMH during business hours if you are in need of Crisis Services or call the

Access Services Line at 1-888-225-4447.

The Access Services Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We are located on Suncrest Drive, across from the Lapeer County Department of Health and Human Services Office near Lapeer County Medical Care Facility.

Lapeer, MI 48446.

The Shiawassee Health & Wellness (SHW) Access Team is here to help when needed. An appointment or a referral is NOT needed from your doctor. Helpful staff are available even when our office is closed. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Anyone can call or walk-in to the Access Center.

24/7 Crisis Intervention 1-989-723-6791

Toll Free No. 1-800-622-4514

Shiawassee Health & Wellness

1555 Industrial Drive

Owosso, MI 48867

The Genesee County Prevention Coalition (GCPC) is recruiting youth to participate in a Youth Advisory Council for substance use prevention and mental health wellness. They are also seeking teenage participants for Youth Focus Groups. For more information contact Jordan Johnson, GCPC Youth Mental Health Specialist, at JJohnson@theGCPC.org or 810-285-9047.

The Youth Connections Magazine is a valuable resource for parents and youth-serving professionals with quality articles written to help adults connect with youth, and provided by the Genesee County Prevention Coalition. Get print copies or view digitally. You can contact Andrea at AKeller@theGCPC.org and ask for a quantity of 30 or more copies to be delivered to you anywhere in Genesee County.

Click the image to access Youth Connections Magazine digitally.

• All of September: Recovery Month. Talking to your teens during Recovery Month should include prevention messaging, including not engaging in drinking or other drug use to reduce the likelihood of becoming reliant on other substances. To learn how to start those conversations, check out the “Talk. They Hear You.” Discussion Starter Videos.
• September 15–October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month. Visit the “Talk. They Hear You.” Spanish website, “Hable. Ellos Escuchan.” for prevention resources and tips provided in Spanish.
  

• Serenity House Communities -10th Annual Flint Recovery Walk & Rally

The Michigan Model for Health website portal has launched a new Notification Center! This feature helps the MMH Program to maintain better contact with teachers and curriculum coordinators on:

• PreK to 12 health education curriculum updates
• New instructional tools
• Other new improvements and system updates

The goal of the notification center is to help educators save time, keep organized, and stay informed while implementing the MMH curriculum.

If you are a MMH teacher that has not transitioned over to digital curriculum, you are not receiving these communications. That can be easily corrected AND you will have access to the most up-to-date MMH lessons and online materials. Are you interested in learning more about what you may be missing? Contact Judy Fridline at jfridlin@geneseeisd.org for more information!

SHAPE America sets the standard for health and physical education in the U.S. SHAPE America’s new National PE Standards and National Health Education Standards — released after a multi-year revision process — provide a comprehensive framework for educators to deliver high-quality instruction and make a positive difference in the health and well-being of every student. Create a log-in to SHAPE America to view the national standard educator kits.

Health education, CPR, HIV and sexuality health. Click HERE to learn more.

MDE Health/PE Related Memos

This memorandum from MDE provides clarity around legal obligations of schools for health and physical education instruction.

Michigan Department of Education Memo

Here is the page with all of the Michigan standards including health and PE.

https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards

This memorandum from MDE provides clarity around legal obligations for school pertaining to HIV education.

HIV and Sex Education Memorandum (michigan.gov)

Here is a document that includes the language from Michigan Compiled laws on health. It includes requirements pertaining to CPR (380.1170a) and opioid use (1170b).

Current Revised School Code (PA 451 of 1976) and (michigan.gov)

September is a challenging month for people with asthma. This month brings a number of asthma triggers that cause more asthma attacks, emergency room visits, and hospital stays than any other month during the year. This makes September the “Asthma Peak Month.” The third week of September is “Asthma Peak Week,” when asthma episodes typically hit their highest point of the year.

Learn more about asthma and what you can do to to support and encourage those who have asthma by clicking the buttons below.

The Project ADAM National Team, with support from the Education Committee and Awareness & Social Media Committee, is launching a new private Facebook group for school nurses, site coordinators and administrators. The group will be a way for members to share Project ADAM ideas, discuss barriers and give and receive support.

To join the group you can go to this link https://www.facebook.com/share/ew9Me5VsEEvK8uFo/ or you can search on Facebook – the group is called Project ADAM Heart Safe School Networking Group. Since it is a private group, each individual who asks to join the group will be required to answer 3 questions and then one of the Awareness & Social Media Committee members will be responsible for approving people into the group.

Do you know a child or family who is without health care coverage? They may be eligible for free or low-cost health care coverage - doctor visits, dental, vision, prenatal care, well-child visits, medication, mental health services, and more! Untreated health issues can be real barriers to school attendance and student success. School staff can be the connection to these essential services without needing to be the experts.

Free assistance with enrollment is available - contact the partners in the following communities.

Genesee County:

Call or text Connecting Kids to Coverage at (810) 853-6458, or contact any managed health plan.

Lapeer and Genesee County:

Hamilton Community Health Network (810)787-5097

Shiawassee County:

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers (989) 729-4848

You’re invited to apply to help us grow pickleball in schools! United Dairy Industry of Michigan and USA Pickleball have teamed up to introduce pickleball to school districts throughout Michigan. Earn 6 SCECHs and score free equipment for your district.

When: October 15, 2024
Time: 8:30am-4:00pm
Where: Legacy Center, Brighton
Who: High School & Middle School PE Teachers

For more information and to apply, visit HERE.
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7841439/Pickleball-in-Schools

Apply by September 13, 2024.
Questions? Contact amiee@milkmeansmore.org

Recently, there has been an interest in schools on what should come first–recess or lunchtime. While adjusting schedules can be challenging, it is crucial for educators to prioritize what is best for students. Nutrition and physical activity together help children to be healthy, engaged and ready to learn.

School recess before lunch has been found to improve students' social and emotional skills, enhanced learning, improved appetite, reduced waste and better classroom behavior. Physical activity stimulates appetite and burns off energy, therefore students are more than likely going to choose nutritious foods from all the food groups. This has also been shown to reduce restlessness and “sluggish” behavior in the classroom and students are then more refreshed and ready to concentrate.

To learn more about recess before lunch, click the button below.

Top 25 Adaptive School Supplies for Kids with Disabilities

Information Source: Special X/Undivided

The mission of Special X / Undivided is to help every child with disabilities reach their full potential.

In April 2024, the USDA issued its 2024 Final Rule Requirements for School Meal Programs. This rule, effective July 1, 2024, updates school meal nutrition standards to bring them in closer alignment with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The rule will institute the first-ever added sugar limits for school meals and update sodium standards, among other changes.

The meal pattern changes will begin to take effect starting in school year 2025-26 and will be phased in through school year 2027-2028. The new rule represents a significant step toward science-backed nutrition standards in US schools.

Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest

New for the 2024-2025 School Year:

Pursuant to MCL 380.1508 (Public Act 57 of 2023), the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and partners developed age-appropriate informational materials for students in grades 6-12 titled Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide. The materials have been reviewed by students and partners in the education, public health, and sexual violence fields to make them clear and accessible.

For the 2024-2025 school year, school districts shall disseminate the materials developed by MDE and partners to students in grades 6-12 in a form and manner determined by the district. See MCL 380.1508(2). These materials include a five-page document. The first four pages must not be edited, while page five requires customization by the district.

This course focuses on supporting new teachers as they take on an exciting new role. The series will help them create a positive, welcoming environment while learning strategies to build connections with students to improve outcomes.

For more information contact Kelli Pierscinski - KPierscinski@geneseeisd.org or Amie Urbanke - AUrbanke@geneseeisd.org

LGBTQ+ students are 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. We are honored to partner with school districts and parents to make these highly requested workshops available to school staff for the 2024-25 school year.

Interested in learning more? Here is the link to the Fall 2024 Offerings List, with more about the workshops and links to register.

When your registration has been accepted, you will receive an email with an individualized zoom link. Spots are limited, so please note that not everyone who registers will automatically be approved. Participants who attend all two hours of the full, live workshop will be eligible to receive State Continuing Education Clock Hours—SCECHs (1.75 hours) and Social Work CEs (2 hours).

CDescription: Digital Threat Assessment (DTA) teaches participants to establish a Digital Behavioral Baseline through a Safety/Threat Assessment lens. By engaging with popular social media applications, you will learn how to find and document worrisome digital media content originating form your community. This training solidifies your understand of how to effectively use DTA as a critical part of any modern-day Threat Assessment. This training is offered at no cost.

Who Should Attend: K-12 school safety personnel and liaisons, members of threat assessment team, district technology professionals, school resource officers, administrators, mental health professionals.

Register for Digital Threat Assessment
Date: September 25, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State St, Saginaw, MI 48603 (📍Google

Map)

Register for Digital Threat Assessment
Date: September 26, 2024
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Eagle Eye Golf Club, 15500 Chandler Rd., Bath Twp. MI 48808 (📍Google Map)

For information about other school safety professional development opportunities CLICK HERE.

Has your school thought about assuring effective responses to emergencies at school events where people gather?

Have you thought about starting an event with communication about best practices for safe response to emergencies?

The Michigan High School Athletic Association has provided a terrific model for starting an event with emergency preparedness communication. They address coordination by the home team to inform visiting teams of a planned medical time out. If EMS providers will be present they they are invited to offer input. They address response equipment, medical team members, essential phone numbers, and more. To see their procedure checklist and additional planning information: https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/files/Health%20Safety/medical%20timeout.pdf

We hear a lot about the social-emotional health and learning of students and staff at work, online and in the news. Do you know what the 5 components of effective social-emotional learning are?

According to the experts at CASEL, (the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning)

they address five broad, interrelated areas of competence and provide examples for each: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. CASEL is an organization that works to make social and emotional learning (SEL) a key part of education from preschool through high school.

To learn more from CASEL about the fundamentals of SEL, and about evidence-based SEL curriculum and programs, CLICK HERE. If you are interested you can also sign up SEL in 60 Minutes course.

Schools are prioritizing students’ mental health, and there are many tools and resources to choose from. CDC created this action guide as a place to start. It can help school and district leaders build on what they are already doing to promote students’ mental health and find new strategies to fill in gaps.

Did you miss the premiere edition of the GISD Whole Child Update? CLICK HERE to access it!