Build kids’ resilience to mental health issues
In Palm Beach County we’ve witnessed a concerning uptick in mental health disorders among students. In the 2021 school year alone, nearly 3,000 students were referred to mental health professionals for counseling with prevalent issues including depression, anxiety, school-related stress, interpersonal relationships and traumatic stress.
Recognizing the urgent need for intervention, the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County has launched the Resiliency Through the Community Initiative in collaboration with the School District of Palm Beach County.
This initiative, made possible through funding from the Florida Department of Education, aims to equip our students with the tools and support to navigate life’s challenges.
At the heart of this initiative is a series of resiliency training programs designed to empower children to cope with and overcome adversity. These programs focus on helping students manage their emotions and thoughts across various environments and stressors, teaching adaptive coping strategies essential for mental well-being.
In the initial phase of the program, master’s level clinicians were trained and placed in schools as resiliency coaches— to pilot and deliver lessons, activities, tool kits, materials and coaching to students and families during summer school in 2023.
The impact of this outreach has been profound, positively affecting over 3,200 students and families across 10 elementary schools. Feedback from respondents underscores the effectiveness of the program, with 80% reporting a positive impact on students and significant percentages noting the acquisition of essential life skills, resiliency, social support and coaching.
We also provided an increase in Youth Mental Health First Aid Training, to support the district’s goal of 80% or more of school staff being trained.
Additionally, we collaborated with stakeholders to conduct a needs assessment and gap analysis, using data on students’ behavioral and mental health to shape our initiative for the current school year.
Together, we’re committed to empowering our youth and fostering resilience for their future success.
While we celebrate these initial successes, our work is far from over. The next phase is underway, as we continue to bolster the resiliency of youths through the community.
The current phase encompasses comprehensive case management, wrap-around intervention services for students identified as struggling with chronic absenteeism, truancy or juvenile justice involvement, as well as Critical Intercept Mapping with community stakeholders to address behavioral and mental health needs along the Juvenile Justice continuum.
We will also contribute to the purchase of curriculum and professional development for teachers to support ongoing resiliency instruction district-wide. We target efforts that fortify student skills in character, personal responsibility, citizenship, critical thinking and honesty, aiming for long-term success.
This month, Mental Health Awareness Month, I urge our community to join us in prioritizing the mental health and well-being of our future leaders. By supporting initiatives like the Resiliency Through the Community Initiative, we can ensure that our students are equipped to thrive in the face of life’s challenges.
To learn more about our efforts or to donate, please email Info@educationfoundationpbc.org.
At the heart of the Resiliency Through the Community Initiative is a series of resiliency training programs designed to empower children to cope with and overcome adversity.