Mental Health Education Literacy Resource Bank The mental health education literacy resource bank is a product of Colorado’s Youth Mental Health Education and Suicide Prevention Act and includes programs that are evidence-based, research-based, or promising programs. A list of programs was collected from various third-party registries, such as non-profit organizations and research entities who have determined that these programs are evidence-based.
Increasing Youth Physical Activity Benefits Everyone: Active students are better learners and increasing youth physical activity before, during, and after school provides immediate benefits for students along with advantages to teachers and the community. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition recommends school-aged children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years get 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous activity every day. When youths are more physically active each day, they can experience improved attention, better mood and memory, improved bone health, healthier weight, lower risk of depression, and better grades.
Jeffco Food & Nutrition Services information can now be found at www.jeffcoschoolfood.org.
May Twelve Talks to Have with Teens is Mental Health: https://www.twelvetalks.com/mental-health Mental health is a reflection of the state of well-being in our thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Teens, like all people, have good days and bad days. You can help them recognize their positive coping techniques.
Jeffco Schools Drug Intervention Services re-formatted comprehensive monthly newsletter includes timely resources, webinars, and programs for you and your family: http://bit.ly/34cZ0Rf .
New Outreach Materials to Support Child Nutrition
Please help spread the word about the importance of completing Free and Reduced-Price School Meals applications and information about free meals for Colorado kids. Hunger Free Colorado has new flyers and a social media toolkit to help you share this information in your community. Visit bit.ly/P-EBT-OutreachToolkit for flyers and sample social media posts.
With so many Coloradans experiencing hunger due to the post pandemic era, and rising grocery prices, it’s crucial to connect them with the available food resources and nutrition programs. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is one of the strongest tools to address hunger, because it gets funds directly to families and individuals to help purchase healthy food. Learn more at COFoodFinder.org or Bit.ly/38hrIRU.
During these challenging and uncertain times, Jefferson Center Mental Health continues to offer a variety of child, youth, and family services, as well as parenting, school-based, and psychological assessment resources (303-425-0300 or https://www.jcmh.org/key-services/ ).
Flu and MMR vaccinations: A statewide communications campaign was launched by CDPHE to promote flu and MMR vaccination. PTA leaders can help amplify the campaign’s messages by sharing the campaign’s websites, fluvaxcolorado.org and vacunagripecolorado.org.
Resources and tips to help children cope with trauma and grief are provided by the Child Mind Institute: https://childmind.org/topics/concerns/trauma-and-grief/ .
Tools for Today’s Digital Parents provides information on parental control options, based on a new report released by the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI). The website also summarizes attitudes and uptake of the parents who use the options and teens’ perceptions of how these tools impact their online lives.
Twelve Talks to Have with Teens https://www.twelvetalks.com
This website contains a repository of information, resources and conversation starters about topics selected by parents, teens and community experts It includes information from evidence-based state or national campaigns and best practices for promoting productive dialogue with young people presented in a non-judgmental style.
Mental Health resources for children & teens: From Mental Health Colorado:
https://www.mentalhealthcolorado.org and https://www.mentalhealthcolorado.org/earlychildhoodtoolkit); from CDPHE here.
Mental Health resources for children & teens from CDPHE are here.
Video on suicide prevention in schools created by the Partners for Children’s Mental Health in collaboration with the Mental Health Youth Action Board at Children’s Hospital Colorado: youtu.be/95Soi9CgWYk and a discussion guide for use after viewing the video.
NPTA Webinars on Food Insecurity:
- How can PTAs address food insecurity during and after COVID-19?
- How can PTAs Advocate for Child Nutrition Programs to Reduce Food Insecurity?
- (Recordings of previous webinars in this series are available on National PTA’s website: National PTA Food Insecurity Webinar Series: What is food insecurity? and How is the charitable food sector addressing food insecurity during COVID-19?
School Food Information – Free & Reduced Information Included, click HERE.
Vaping multiplies risk of COVID-19 in teens and young adults Teens and young adults who vape are at significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with COVID-19, according to new research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.
Almost half of U.S. teen e-cigarette users want to quit, new study finds: A new survey by Medical University of South Carolina and reported in JAMA Pediatrics showed that almost half of U.S. teen e-cigarette users want to quit. With other research showing young people who vaped were five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than their non-vaping peers, there has never been a more crucial time to quit. Young vapers can text “DITCHVAPE” to 8807 to join the free and anonymous text-based program “This is Quitting for help.”
How to Welcome Diverse Perspectives into your PTA (from NPTA)
This short guide shares the Do’s and Don’ts of diversity outreach. Discover best practices from PTAs around the country and learn what your PTA can do to become more inclusive!
Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI): “How to Be a Good Digital Parent” (original toolkit upgraded, one for elementary (ages 6-11), & one for teens (ages 12+), both in English & Spanish)
Child Mind Institute resources:
- Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News; Support for difficult conversations. HERE
- Helping Children Cope with Frightening News: Processing grief and fear in a healthy way. HERE
- What to Do (and Not Do) When Kids Are Anxious: How to respect feelings without empowering fears. HERE
National PTA grants opened on November 2. $1,000 grants are available for local PTAs interested in operating programming related to STEM, digital safety, healthy hydration, and the arts. Programs offered will provide PTAs the flexibility to PTA their way and deliver programs to children and families in a variety of ways, no matter how learning is occurring in their school community or whether or not families have access to technology. In addition, local PTAs will have an opportunity to be a part of a learning community designed for PTAs to receive support and learn from each other in this changing environment. Local PTA leaders can check out the PTA.org/Grants webpage.
The virtual AFHK/COPTA workshop, Your Child’s Brain: What’s Going On in There? has been archived. Links to the recording, handouts, and resources in English and Spanish (Para información y recursos en español, ver abajo):
Vaping, or use of electronic cigarettes continues to be a serious health issue facing our youth. Free web, text and phone support for youth who are seeking help for addiction to any form of tobacco are available: www.coyouthquitline.org/ or https://www.mylifemyquit.com . http://parentsagainstvaping.org
A six-minute video depicts how JUUL became such an appealing product to teens: https://www.wsj.com/video/how-juul-took-a-page-from-big-tobacco-playbook/80048489-676D-47BC-9D6A-A2E6BE4712B9.html
Vaping – Discussing it with teens, brain science behind teen nicotine addiction, and why flavored e-cigarettes like JUUL got kids so hooked so fast (Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) free podcasts): Click here to listen and subscribe to get the latest episodes when they are released each week.
Electronic Cigarette Epidemic in our Youth Advisory from the Surgeon General: “E-cigarette use has become an epidemic among our nation’s young people…. Everyone can play an important role in protecting our nation’s young people from the risks of e-cigarettes.” Information for Parents:
- Learn about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes and the risks of all forms of their use for young people at https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov
- Adopt tobacco-free rules, including e-cigarettes, in your home and vehicle
- Let your child know that you want them to stay away from all tobacco products
- Talk to your child or teen about why e-cigarettes are harmful for them. It’s never too late. Get the Surgeon General’s tip sheet for parents, Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes, at https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov. Start the conversation early with children about why e-cigarettes, including JUUL, are harmful for them.
On July 1, 2019, National Jewish Health launched a Vaping and Tobacco Youth Cessation Program to help with the youth vaping epidemic. My Life, My Quit™ is the first comprehensive program designed just for teens. Teens can text or call a toll-free number (1-855-891-9989) dedicated specifically to teens, or visit mylifemyquit.com for online enrollment and real-time coaching. Activities to support quitting and stress relief are also provided.
Tips for Talking with Teens About Marijuana: Fall is an exciting time for Colorado teenagers and families with homecoming, football games, dances and parties. These upcoming fall activities provide an opportunity for you to have a conversation with your teen about marijuana. https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRRPNK49xkemC8oE82GcCfWV867D-eROGSrt_SHLUFlUjyjLCHSnDXOtHXqH6h8rGnhJOwgNBhtVYKE/pub
Behavioral Health
Teen-To-Teen Suicide Prevention Awareness Public Service Announcement Campaign was launched on October 8, focused on open conversations related to mental health promotion and suicide prevention. The PSA filmed 40 teens to create a series of videos. Information is available at the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2l41hvkBhR7WXYVdCkxtJw?view_as=subscriber
https://kdvr.com/2019/10/08/group-launches-new-awareness-campaign-tackling-teen-suicide-in-colorado/
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2019/10/08/students-psa-break-silence-suicide/
The PSA’s, developed through a partnership between the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, the Colorado Film Office, and the Colorado Department of Human Services, are designed to help bring awareness to teen mental health.
Shared Food Wellness Policy Resource