From Nikki Tennis:

            FYI, here are a few news articles or information that I thought might interest you:

·         Helping with childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). 

Charleston Gazette-Mail | Michael R. Brumage: Adverse childhoods affecting our drug, obesity problems

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/gazette-op-ed-commentaries/20170226/michael-r-brumage-adverse-childhoods-affecting-our-drug-obesity-problems.

New campaign, Changing Minds, promotes power of teachers to reduce stress of traumatized students | EdSource

https://edsource.org/2016/new-campaign-promotes-power-of-teachers-to-reduce-stress-of-traumatized-students/571185

·         For children with special needs.  A Parent’s Advocacy Guide to WV Department of Education Policy 2419 is now available in Spanish: http://www.ddc.wv.gov/Documents/PAG Spanish Version 122916.pdf. (The English version is at http://www.ddc.wv.gov/news/documents/parent advocacy guide final oct 2013.pdf.)  WVDE also has a Hand in Hand guide at https://wvde.state.wv.us/osp/hand_in_hand sept 2015.pdf.

·         Veterans.  About a book a veteran wrote, Why is Dad so Mad?, to explain PTSD to his child: http://www.upworthy.com/this-veteran-found-a-creative-way-to-talk-about-his-ptsd-with-his-child?c=ufb1. 

There are Veteran’s Mental Health First Aid classes, as well as Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid classes, taking place around the state.  To learn more, visit  http://www.marshall.edu/atc/.   

·         Empowering girls. Want to raise empowered women? Start in middle school. - The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/want-to-raise-empowered-women-start-in-middle-school/2017/02/13/4ab9127a-e4ac-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html?utm_term=.10f98c453232

·         Teaching empathy.  

Empathy Is Tough to Teach, But Is One Of the Most Important Life Lessons | MindShift | KQED News

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/02/08/empathy-is-tough-to-teach-but-is-one-of-the-most-important-life-lessons/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170211.

      Information from:Nikki Tennis, DirectorOffice of Children, Youth, and FamiliesW.Va. Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities
(304) 356-4796

   

      Dr. Barb Brady led a team to create new toolkits available at https://livewell.marshall.edu/mutac/?page_id=96.  The toolkits cover several topics, including positive behavior support (PBS), family engagement, and school climate.

·         Some legislative bills related to ESMH have been introduced in the state Legislature, including the following:

o   Senate Bill 63, Requiring school counselors spend all their time on comprehensive school counseling programs

o   Senate Bill 251, Creating pilot program for school-based mental and behavioral health services for students and families

o   House Bill 2108, Requiring school bus aides, who are trained in preventing bullying and providing a safe environment for students while being transported on a school bus, to be present on school buses

o   House Bill 2153, Relating to designation of social workers in the Department of Health and Human Services to promote better student school attendance

o   House Bill 2172, Providing that school nutrition plans include take home meals for low income students

o   House Bill 2195, Relating to requiring comprehensive drug awareness and prevention program in all public schools

o   House Bill 2398, Extending funding for School Innovation and Local Solution Dropout Prevention and Recovery Innovation Zones

o   House 2419, Defining and establishing the crime of cyberbullying.