Back-to-school season is here in New York State! This year, NYS TINRC would like to share some helpful resources for parents, educators, staff, and administration that may help make the transition from summer break to the school routine easier.
Find online mental health resources from these organizations committed to helping students, parents, teachers, and staff have a great school year.
Resources for Educators:
Funded by New York State, PBS Learning Media is an online resource for educators and teachers to incorporate free videos, interactive activities, interviews, and more into their learning curriculum to engage their students ages K-12. In addition to school subjects, PBS Learning Media also offers mental health resources for children.
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) offers resources for teachers about school safety, ways to prevent bullying and resources for incorporating trauma-informed principles into schools.
Did you know many students see the library as a safe haven within schools? The Human Rights Campaign compiled a list of tips and resources for librarians and media specialists to help LGBTQ+ students best.
Resources for Parents:
Find resources to help keep your children safe! The Kids Mental Health Foundation offers free mental health resources for parents and caregivers. Topics such as “Coping with Strong Emotions” and “Bullying Basics: What to Know, What to Do” can help students feel more prepared for the classroom.
The Mental Health Coalition’s ROADMAP TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH interactive website offers parents, caregivers, and children tools and resources to support mental well-being during the back-to-school transition.
Resources for Administration/Leadership:
This white paper for educational supervisors and administrators explores the importance of trauma-informed care in the workplace and how implementing trauma-informed principles can retain employees and improve well-being.
The TRUST-S 2.0 tool allows schools and districts to view aggregated survey results from their administration and staff to collect a “snapshot” of the school’s journey toward becoming more trauma-sensitive and trauma-informed. This tool employs the SAMHSA’s 10 Implementation Domains as a framework for guiding survey participants.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
An important aspect of effective leadership is understanding the impact of race-based trauma on students and their families. This resource from the NCTSN organization dives into the many ways children and families are affected by race-based trauma.
Resources for School Staff:
Mental Health America – Frontline Workers
School staff, such as cafeteria and janitorial workers, are an integral part of the school environment and keep the day-to-day operations running smoothly. Mental Health America’s Frontline Workers toolkit offers tips for using and developing strong coping strategies.
Staying in Balance: Healthy Solutions for Managing Workplace Stress
This resource toolkit is for frontline workers to help organizations better support and assist their employees, volunteers, and program participants to cope with stressful situations.
Additional Resources
NYS TINRC strives to assist and support all New Yorkers with effective trauma-informed care and practices that improve their well-being.
The New York State Trauma-Informed Network and Resource Center (NYS TINRC) is committed to fostering training and resources that connect all of us to safe, trusting, and supportive care. Since trauma intertwines and interferes with race, age, history, culture, language, and more, NYS TINRC believes that an intersectional approach in trauma-responsive care can be helpful not only for each of us but for collaborative communities and organizations.
Visit NYS TINRC’s website to learn more about upcoming events