Weekly Wellness Update
Week of September 7-11 Back Into a Routine
Bouncing Back After School: heart hygiene for our children
Like some 60 million other kids in Canada and the USA, two of my youngest grandsons are about to go back to school. I find myself thinking about their emotional health and well-being. One of the grandsons doesn’t admit to his wounds very easily – physically or emotionally. He tends to withdraw into a sullen mood when hurting (very much like his grandfather). The social normality of going to school camouflages its emotional enormity.
Family School Liaison Program
What is the Family School Liaison Program?
The Family School Liaison Program is made up of eight Family School Liaison Counsellors (FSLCs), two Child and Youth Care Workers (CYCW) , six Family Connections Wellness Coaches (Mental Health Capacity Building Project - Alberta Health Services), one Program Manager and one Clinical Team Leader. The counselling services provided by the program are free of charge and are provided to students and their families within the Horizon School Division. The program is designed to offer support for children, youth, families and school staff with the general goal of improving the student’s personal, social and academic success. Counsellors provide a link between home and school for the student and family.
Mental Health Capacity Building Wellness Coaches provide preventative mental health and well being programs in Horizon School Division schools to help foster positive mental health and well being. Counsellors provide individual counselling in various areas including peer/friendship issues, self esteem, anger management, conflict resolution, mentoring/positive role modeling, organizational and motivational checks, homework skills, attendance issues, behavior modification, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, divorce, and many more. Counsellors also provide group counselling, classroom presentations, parent/school staff workshops, connection and referral to community agencies.
If you feel your child or family might benefit from accessing our program, please contact your child's school and ask to speak with the Family School Liaison Counsellor and he or she can assist in connecting with you with the appropriate supports.
Additionally, you may contact Angela Miller, Clinical Team Leader at angela.miller@horizon.ab.ca to discuss additional mental health supports available in your community.