The recent release of the Center for Disease Control's (CDC) annual study on Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) revealed alarming statistics in the areas of increased hopelessness and despair along with increased thoughts of suicide and suicide completion amongst middle and high-school-aged students. In light of the current pandemic, limits to social activities, and political and social unrest, it is no surprise that current statistics are demonstrating a 50 percent or higher increase in most measurable areas. We also can easily ascertain that children and youth are not the only ones experiencing these stark feelings.

So the question becomes: What is the solution and how do we combat this growing trend for ourselves and others? The answer may be hope. What defines hope, exactly? According to the “hope theory” formulated by positive psychologist Charles Snyder, hope gives people the will, determination, and sense of empowerment that allows them to reach their goals. A large body of research on hope demonstrates its power to support well-being, even more so than optimism or self-efficacy (our belief in our own abilities).

Some of you may be thinking, "Well, I'm not a hope person by nature," and that's okay. We all have the ability to strengthen our "hope muscle," even in the midst of difficult circumstances. The key connection between hope and mental health is resilience. In fact, a 2018 study investigated hope and resilience among 692 teenagers in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades in four high schools located in low-income regions. They found that teens who were more hopeful were also more resilient. So, how do we foster hope?

The Journal of Behavior Therapy, (2020) recommends the following 5 ways to cultivate hope and reduce anxiety for both children and adults:

1. Focus on your strengths.

2. Practice gratitude.

3. Reframe negative thoughts.

4. Limit media exposure.

5. Spend time with hopeful and optimistic people.

The holiday experience may look different this year. As this pandemic gets closer to the one-year mark, we are reminded of the missed birthdays, reunions, vacations, gatherings, and former normal comforts. This is not the time to despair; rather, it is the time to see a flicker of hope in the darkness. Find your hope, focus on your hope, and let your hope guide you each and every day. It is only then that we can combat the darkness around us.

Please take time to rest and rejuvenate. We wish you a hope-filled holiday season!

Thank you for allowing us to serve you!

Are you interested in being part of the ESC Region 11 Mental Health & School Counseling Team? Are you a licensed social worker or LPC? Are you ready for a fun, fast-paced environment where you are driven by creativity? If you said, "yes," to all of these questions, then please consider applying today!

The Clinical Consultant position is a shared partnership between MHMR and ESC Region 11. We are looking for a dynamic team member who is knowledgeable, creative, and well-versed in community resources.

Weatherford High School

Weatherford ISD

Professional School Counselor

What influenced you to become a school counselor, college advisor, social worker, or counselor leader?

My own struggles influenced me to be a counselor. Not feeling seen was difficult for me as a child. As a counselor, I am who I needed at that time. I see others, I acknowledge their hardships and successes. It's a simple act, but it makes a world of difference.

Name an initiative or change that you were a part of that promoted advocacy for fellow counselors or students. Describe how that change has impacted your role or the lives of students.

This may not sound innovative, but give it a chance when I say that I listen. As educators, we love to talk, share information, and show that we have the answers others are seeking. I would say that the greatest change I have made for WISD is being a counselor who truly listens. I listen with genuine concern and without judgment. I listen, even when others are quiet. I listen because some people need to be heard.

What are you proudest of in your current position?

Meaningful connections. I see and reach out not only to students but also to the staff. Building solid, genuine working relationships is critical. I am very proud of the range of relationships I have established as a counselor.

When the work gets hard, how do you find a balance between your work and personal life?

Being proactive. I leave home at home and I leave work at work. There are always extenuating circumstances, but 99 percent of the time you will not find me working at home or handling home business at work. You need to draw a line for the sanity and success of everyone.

What advice would you give to future counselors, college advisors, or social workers?

Be consistent and real in your work. You will be "home" to so many people and never even realize the scope of your reach. You need to be a reliable source of support in the lives of children and/or clients or you will never be trusted by them. Without trust, you will not succeed as a counselor. And when you make mistakes, forgive yourself, learn from them, and be better.

12/3/20 Facing the New Normal

CPE Registration: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/26171/49446

LPC Registration: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/26586/50031

Session Description: This presentation covers a systemic review of trauma and the effects of the year on students, families, and the staff. It will include current mental health trends that have been seen as students, educators, and parents adjust to the new normal. Join us for a powerful discussion on what to recognize and how to best support others in this ever-changing environment.

12/8/20 School Counselor Toolkit Tuesday

CPE Registration: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/26508/49945

LPC Registration: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/26510/49946

Session Description: School Counselor Toolkit Tuesday is designed to provide quick counseling techniques, strategies, and ideas. We will discuss, demonstrate, and allow time for practice with each skill-based method. Keeping our toolkit full will help us all take on the challenges ahead.

12/10/20 Ethics for School Counselors

CPE Registration: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/25235/47979

LPC Registration: https://registration.esc11.net/catalog/sessions/26584/50030

Session Description: This session will look at ethical implications for both face-to-face and virtual counseling. Participants will apply the ASCA ethical standards for each scenario presented. The session will be designed to support counselors as they work through virtual situations and transition to face-to-face interaction.

We are so excited to share our lineup of spring sessions! We carefully reviewed your tremendous feedback and analyzed current mental health trends to curate dynamic spring opportunities. A few sessions may be pending; however, we have notated a holding spot within the schedule so that you can plan accordingly.

We are recruiting at least 10 individuals to join the ESC Region 11 regional crisis team. As a member of this team, you will provide support in crisis situations. This support comes in the form of both virtual and face-to-face intervention. We follow all CDC requirements and put the team's safety first at all times. Individuals selected to join the team will be required to attend a three-day NOVA Crisis Response Training (CRT). Generally, this training comes at a cost; however, team members selected for this purpose will incur NO fee. It is a small token of our gratitude for your willingness to assist in the work. Please direct any questions to Dr. Benavidez at sbenavidez@esc11.net.

There is a strong connection between mental health and wellness. In order to improve our overall well-being, we must ensure our "core" is properly supported. Our basic foundation includes drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, eating healthier foods, and incorporating movement every day!

The Texans Recovering Together initiative was designed in response to the mental health trends exacerbated by COVID-19. This free program is anxiously awaiting school personnel to partner with it to support mental health and well-being for educators. Requests include self-care workshops; group counseling for staff, parents, and students; and customized efforts. Every single county in the state of Texas is covered! Please let us know if you are interested in these services but are not located within the Region 11 territory. We are here to help!

While this school year has been different, what remains unchanged is your steadfast leadership and focus on providing quality education to students as well as implementing effective strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in your schools and communities. Several efforts are underway to help our state better understand the spread of COVID-19.

Specifically, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health) is partnering with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to launch the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey (Texas Cares). DSHS worked with UT Health to develop and fund the antibody survey to broadly describe the experience Texans are having with COVID-19. The collaboration aims to learn more about the number of people who have been infected in Texas, follow how infections spread over time, understand risk factors for the disease, and inform planning for future health care needs due to COVID-19.

The Texas Cares project is especially seeking participation from K-12 school personnel and students. “Teachers from all over the state ask me how they can help. Well, participating in this survey is one way all Texans can help,” said Dr. Steve Kelder, professor of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Science at UT School of Public Health.

To help, enroll yourself by visiting: http://bit.ly/UTSPH_TXCares

Also, please send this message to your school colleagues and students' parents.

Texas School Safety Spotlight Program

Are you seeking a way to recognize someone for his or her outstanding service in school safety? We know many individuals and schools are working diligently to increase safety in their districts by collaborating, designing, and implementing programs. The School Safety Spotlight Program is an opportunity to nominate those individuals and schools for their hard work.

We want to hear what you, your school, district, or colleagues are doing to make a difference in our schools and communities as it relates to safety and security. Recognizing the creativity and diversity of Texas schools, programming, and personnel, the School Safety Spotlight Program has five categories from which nominations can be made. These categories include:

1. Collaborative Community Partnerships
2. Staff Development and Training
3. Positive School Climate and Prevention Programs
4. Student-Led Groups or Programs
5. Outstanding Individual Service

Nominations for this quarter* are due on January 31, 2021!

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nominations received for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 will be considered for this quarter.

The Texas School Safety Center will recognize the top scoring submission from each category in our quarterly newsletter as well as on our social media platforms. Nominations are submitted on a rolling basis and reviewed quarterly. All nominations selected per quarter will be considered for recognition at our Texas School Safety Conference this summer.

For more information about the School Safety Spotlight Program or to make an online nomination visit:

https://txssc.txstate.edu/tools/ss-spotlight/

Texas School Safety Training Opportunities

Register today for our virtual School Behavioral Threat Assessment, Sandy Hook Promise - Say Something, Standard Response Protocol/Standard Reunification Train-the-Trainer (SRP/SRM), and Digital Threat Assessmenttrainings.

The training sessions are open to Texas public ISDs, open-enrollment charter schools, junior colleges, school-based law enforcement, and state agencies that support schools. Due to limited space, vendors and contractors are not permitted to register.

All virtual trainings will be provided through the Zoom online meeting/webinar platform.

School Behavioral Threat Assessment Trainings: Space Available

School Behavioral Threat Assessment provides a proactive, evidence-based approach for identifying individuals who may pose a threat and providing interventions before a violent incident occurs. This training will teach participants how to respond to threatening and other disturbing behaviors, gather additional information, make an assessment, and take preventive steps if necessary.

With the passage of Senate Bill 11, Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools are mandated to establish a threat assessment team to serve at each campus, and each team is required to complete training provided by the Texas School Safety Center or a regional Education Service Center.

Registrant must be identified as a Texas district/charter School Threat Assessment team member.

View Dates and Register

Sandy Hook Promise - Say Something Training Sessions: Space Available

Sandy Hook Promise is partnering with the Texas School Safety Center to bring Say Something, the proven violence prevention program, to middle and high schools in Texas. Say Something is a no-cost, easy-to-implement, and life-saving program that will help school personnel and/or school-based law enforcement teach students how to recognize warning signs of potential violence or self-harm and act immediately to intervene.

View Dates and Register

SRP/SRM Train-the-Trainer Trainings: New Dates Available

The Texas School Safety Center, in collaboration with the I Love U Guys Foundation, is hosting no-cost Standard Response Protocol/Standard Reunification Method Train-the-Trainer virtual training sessions. The SRP and SRM are proven enhancements to school safety planning. Also included is a segment on Incident Command and how it relates to crisis management for educators.

View Dates and Register

Digital Threat Assessment Trainings: New Dates Available

The Digital Threat Assessment training was developed to address the need to keep pace with the ever-evolving technology challenges that currently face our students. Real-life case examples will be used from subject-matter expert work across North America. A significant portion of the day will be spent conducting hands-on searching exercises through the most current social media sites and applications.

View Dates and Register

School Safety and Mental Health

• Suicide Prevention
• Early Mental Health Intervention
• Mental Health Promotion
• Substance Abuse Prevention
• Substance Abuse Intervention
• Trauma-Informed & Grief Informed Practices
• Social/Emotional Skills
• Positive Behavior Interventions
• Child Abuse Prevention
• Human Trafficking
• School Safety
• Mental Health and Behavioral Health
• Safe and Supportive School Climate
• Counseling and Mental Health Services of the Coordinated School Health Model
  

• School Guidance and Counseling

• Health, Safety, & Discipline

Training

• Approved Trauma-Informed Training List

COVID-19

• COVID-19 Support & Guidance
• COVID-19 FAQ Remote Counseling and Student Support Services
  
• COVID-19 Mental and Behavioral Health Statewide Resource List

Texas Home Learning

TEA has developed at-home learning resources as a contingency option for school districts. The learning resources are reviewed to meet the needs of all learners. There are instructional supports for gifted/talented students in the core content to assist educators in providing instruction in person or in a distance-learning setting. These are optional resources intended to assist in the delivery of educational resources in this time of public health crisis. Visit the Texas Home Learning Website to learn more about Texas Home Learning.

The military indicator will no longer count towards accountability points or bonus funding. This is effective retroactively, beginning with Cohort 2019 and later.

Texas Home Learning 3.0 (THL 3.0)

Texas College Bridge Now Open to Grade 11 Students

Join the hundreds of Texas school districts offering Texas College Bridge to their 2020-2021 juniors and seniors. Submit your Participation, Data Sharing & Requirements Agreement for one of the upcoming, monthly start dates NOW at texascollegebridge.org/district. Complete district agreements for Spring 1 by January 11; Spring 2 by February 8, and Spring 3 by March 8, 2021. You will find more information at texascollegebridge.org. To indicate your interest or ask a question, send an email to texascollegebridge@tea.texas.gov.

Advanced Placement (AP)

The College Board is on YouTube!

AP Daily videos are short on-demand segments led by expert AP teachers. The videos can explain course content and skills while teachers use class time for focused discussions and collaboration.

• Free Resources for Teaching and Learning are available for teachers at AP 20-21 School Year Supports.
• Watch videos to learn more about college scholarship opportunities and AP courses.

ACT/SAT

ESC Region 10 Advanced Academics is hosting free sessions with the College Board this December, which are open to all Texas educators and administrators.

SAT Suite: Using Scores & Reports to Inform Instruction, Counsel Students, and Monitor Growth

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on December 8

SAT Suite: Understanding Key Content Features and Content Alignment

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. on December 10

House Bill 3 (HB3) Reimbursements

ACT/SAT Reimbursement Application Now Open

The TEAL application to request reimbursement opened on November 9 and closes on December 18. To prepare, districts should designate a point person at the district level for this project and ensure they have Accountability-level access in TEAL. Please view this presentation for more information. For questions, please contact TEA at advancedacademics@tea.texas.gov or at 512-463-9762.

TSIA

The Texas Success Initiative Assessment, Version 2.0 (TSIA2) is set to launch on January 11, 2021 and will replace the current version of the test (TSIA). The TSIA2 will provide a more stream-lined testing experience combining the current reading and writing sections into a new single section, English Language Art and Reading (ELAR).

Further, the diagnostic tests have been reduced to one per subject area. Students will have access to test feature tutorials and the ability to send their scores to institutions, free of charge.

Last, both students and educators will have access to free instructional and practice materials related to TSIA2 content with the launch of the TSIA2 Learning Resources library (January 2021).

Click here to register for the training sessions. For a complete list of all dates and sessions type “TSIA2” into the Zoom search field.

Resource: "Knowledge for College" Digital Content Package

The Future-Focused Texas campaign - a public-private collaboration - aims to maintain college enrollment rates in Texas despite the effects of COVID-19.

Click HERE to view the newest Digital Counselor Package, which features articles, videos, and downloadable resources on FASFA, financial aid, and more college application support. Check these resources out, pass them along to students, post them in your virtual classroom, or link them on your school website!

For more information, and to view the rest of the Digital Counselor Packages, visit Get Schooled's FFTX landing page.

For general information about the campaign, and to sign up to receive email updates, visit the FFTX homepage!

Resource: Admissions Updates for TX Colleges & Universities

Supporting Counselors with the Covid-19 Response Dashboard

Each year, high school counselors in Texas work tirelessly to make their students' transition to college as seamless as possible. This year, with the backdrop of COVID-19, constantly changing college admissions information has made college advising more difficult. To help reduce this burden, TxCAN has compiled a dashboard of college admissions information and institutional COVID-19 resource pages for Texas institutions.

See the dashboard

Note: TxCAN updates the dashboard according to submissions. If you represent a school on the dashboard and would like to submit a correction to the information displayed, please click HERE to fill out the correction survey. Thank you for helping us keep our information up-to-date for Texas counselors!

Upcoming Future-Focused Texas Webinars

"Self Care for Educators"
When: December 3, 2020, 11:00 a.m. Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://EdTX.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvduqoqjsjE9M8SsikxwGjcOqhuZbMi9lw

Alternative Opportunities to Four-Year Degree Programs
When: Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Host: Texas OnCourse
https://page.texasoncourse.org/register-for-alternative-opportunities-to-four-year-degree-programs-webinar

"What Happens When "Good Enough" Displaces "College Match?"
When: February 3, 2021, 11:00 a.m. Central Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://EdTX.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJErdO-qrjkuH9P4peD0fl8v8xrWW6NCrTTF

4 for the Fall: A Blueprint for Supporting the High School Class of 2021

A new “4 for the Fall” guide from NCAN outlines four key steps for district and school leaders, school counselors, teachers, and community partners to take to keep seniors on track for a postsecondary pathway.

Billed as “a blueprint for supporting the high school class of 2021,” the new guide focuses on practices that will be familiar to NCAN members but may have room for growth in many districts and schools:

1. Understanding students’ postsecondary intentions and needs through survey data.
2. Obtaining and analyzing postsecondary outcomes data from the National Student Clearinghouse.
3. Increasing access to financial aid by improving Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates.
4. Examining current activities around fall milestones, and pivoting to virtual where possible.

Toolkit From Educate Texas: "Re-engaging Opportunity Youth Across Texas"

Educate Texas has developed this resource to outline the core principles and best practices for Opportunity Youth (OY) re-engagement programs in the state of Texas. More than three years of work in the field has given us the chance to incorporate the voices and insights of Opportunity Youth at every turn and to highlight the potential for strategic collaborations at the national, state, and local levels.

USE THIS GUIDE TO:
• Understand the OY landscape in Texas
• Develop re-engagement programs that provide rigor and support
• Evolve programs through periodic self-assessment

• How to Write the Best Scholarship Apps. Share these attributes of a strong application to help students streamline the scholarship application process, regardless of the type and number of applications they fill out.

• College Board Opportunity Scholarships. Your high school students can enter to win a College Board Opportunity Scholarship between $1,000 and $2,000 for completing the FAFSA, preparing for the SAT, and applying to colleges.

• Webinar: Scholarships and Financial Aid. During this webinar, we hear from expert guests on topics such as FAFSA verification, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s scholarship programs, and how to guide students through the scholarship application process.

• The Dream.US National Scholarship. This scholarship can be seen as the “Pell Grant” for DREAMers. Tuition and fees are covered at partner colleges (max of $16,500 for an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree). There’s also an opportunity for an additional stipend to cover books, supplies, and transportation.

• Roadtrip Texas: Paying for College. In this short video, Texas students discuss how they paid for college, from school selection to scholarship applications and more.

• Essay Writing Tips. Writing skills are important, and these tips will help your students whether they are applying for scholarships or crafting entrance essays.

Save the Date: Spring TACAC and Strivescan Virtual College Fairs

February 23, 2021, from 5:00 - 7:45 p.m.

and

February 24, 2021, from 5:00 - 7:45 p.m.

More details to come!

This phrase was coined by Alexander Pope in 1732, but it quickly became somewhat of a proverb. The meaning is simple: People will continue to hope, no matter the odds.

Hope is a powerful life force that enables us to face and overcome challenges. By its very nature, hope is optimistic. It gives us the strength to work through the difficulties in life to achieve fulfillment, growth, and happiness. Hope provides a haven from pessimism and fear. It galvanizes our courage and mobilizes our energy and vitality. It enhances our mood and our creative thinking.

Research Demonstrates:

• Hope can be learned – even among children with trauma histories.
• Hope is a protective factor buffering adversity and stress.
• Hope leads to improved academic achievement.

Hope is not wishful thinking. It is the confidence that the future will be better than the present, and that each individual plays a role in making that future possible. Hope comes from setting valued goals, identifying pathways, and harnessing the willpower needed to make valued goals a reality.

Hope also contributes to the human desire to help others who are struggling - loved ones as well as strangers.

These days, when it seems like the odds are stacked against us, it is more important than ever to cling to hope. We are all in this thing together, so reach across the aisle and help another person who is struggling...it might just give you the boost you need during this holiday season.

In case you missed the great presentation by Suite 360, they will be joining us during the February 3rd School Counselor PLC session. They have several resources and programming supports that aid in social-emotional learning, mental health, and well-being. Check out their website below!

More than 30 years ago, Dr. Carol Dweck and her colleagues became interested in students' attitudes about failure. They noticed that some students rebounded while other students seemed devastated by even the smallest setbacks. After studying the behavior of thousands of children, Dr. Dweck coined the terms "fixed mindset" and "growth mindset" to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. When students believe they can get smarter, they understand that effort makes them stronger; therefore, they put in extra time and effort, and that leads to higher achievement.

Recent advances in neuroscience have shown us that the brain is far more malleable than we ever knew. Research on brain plasticity has shown how connectivity between neurons can change with experience. With practice, neural networks grow new connections, strengthen existing ones, and build insulation that speeds the transmission of impulses. These neuroscientific discoveries have shown us that we can increase our neural growth by the actions we take, such as using good strategies, asking questions, practicing, and following good nutrition and sleep habits.

At the same time that these neuroscientific discoveries were gaining traction, researchers began to understand the link between mindsets and achievement. It turns out, if you believe your brain can grow, you behave differently. So the researchers asked, “Can we change mindsets? And if so, how?” This began a series of interventions and studies that prove we can indeed change a person’s mindset from fixed to growth, and when we do, it leads to increased motivation and achievement.

Researchers started noticing that teacher practice has a big impact on student mindset, and the feedback that teachers give their students can either encourage a child to choose a challenge and increase achievement or look for an easy way out. For example, studies on different kinds of praise have shown that telling children they are smart encourages a fixed mindset, whereas praising hard work and effort cultivates a growth mindset. When students have a growth mindset, they take on challenges and learn from them, therefore increasing their abilities and achievement.

(Excerpt from https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/#)

Parents and families are critical partners in children’s social and emotional development. They can model the skills, attitudes, and behaviors we want all children to master, and they can be important advocates for SEL at school.

Website: https://www.esc11.net/domain/421
Location: 1451 South Cherry Lane, White Settlement, TX, USA
Twitter: @ESCR11Counselor

LB 12.08.20