The Resilient Cardinal
Because You Matter
November 2020

Click here for information on family supports, therapists available in each school, and staff supports. Staff supports include information on supports available, staff links, and the elementary and secondary referral process.
Purposity
The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District is Partnering with Puposity
Purposity is an app connecting users with needs in their community. The partnership aims to fulfill the essential needs of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District.
Those who sign up receive an alert on their phone with a link to a story of an individual in need and can then choose to meet that need right on their phone. The requested item is in the hands of the school in just a few days. It takes one notification, under a minute, and a few clicks to make a difference for a fellow community member.
To join the movement to support The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, download the Purposity app from the App Store or Google Play and be sure to follow The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District.
We need 250 people to sign up for this app before we can start posting needs, Here is a link to the Purposity Intro Video if you would like more information.
Cardinal Care Stress Stars and Cardinal Care Stress Balls!
Cardinal Care Stress Star We are excited to announce that every CFAUSD staff member and student will be able to get either a Cardinal Care Stress Star OR Cardinal Care Stress Ball!! | Cardinal Care Stress Ball The act of repeatedly squeezing the ball releases tension and helps to relieve stress. The benefits of stress balls also include boosting blood circulation and can be used as a tool for meditation. | Take time to use healthy coping skills for stress! Please remember to eat right, drink right, sleep right, and get exercise! |
Cardinal Care Stress Star
Cardinal Care Stress Ball
Youth Mental Health First Aid
On the November 23rd and November 24th professional development days our district will be training over 300 staff members in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Secondary classroom teachers and administrators will be trained on November 23rd, and Elementary classroom teachers and administrators will be trained on November 24th.
There have been several changes that have taken place in this training to make it virtual. One of the biggest changes is that there needs to be 2 hours of pre-work done before the training takes place. Because of this, there was time given on either October 29th or October 30th for you to complete this pre-work. It needs to be turned in anywhere from 3-7 days before the training in November. Your pre-work needs to be turned in before you can join Zoom for the training.
Each presenter was given a list of staff members that are assigned to them. The presenter is in charge of enrolling those staff members into the Youth Mental Health First Aid database. The list of participants was done on an alphabetical basis. Here is the List of YMHFA Groups
You should be receiving an e-mail with instructions on what to do for your pre-work, and how to log-in to your zoom training. Please do not disregard any e-mails you will be getting about Youth Mental Health First Aid.
Here is what the schedule for the day will look like in November:
8-10:30am: Work time, your instructor may get ahold of you
10:30am - Virtual Session begins
12:00pm-12:45pm Lunch Break
12:45pm-Virtual Session resumes
2pm-2:15pm break
2:15-Virtual session resumes
3:30-Virtual session ends
What is Youth Mental Health First Aid?
The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. Learn more: download the Mental Health First Aid for Youth one-pager.
Youth Mental Health First Aid is different than the NASRO Adolescent Mental Health Training that was held over the summer.
When will I get trained?
This year we are training all K-12 classroom teachers and building principals. (This did include MAPE and Special Ed teachers) Next year will be all Elementary non-classroom teachers (ex. psychs, social workers, school counselors, librarians, paras, OT, PT, Title, etc.), cooks, bus drivers, and central office staff. The following year will go back to year 1 of the cycle which includes all Secondary non-classroom teachers. We did not get to all of the secondary non-classroom teachers last year as 2 of the training were canceled due to COVID-19. Here is the YMHFA 6 year plan
What do I do if I have already attended this training?
Here is the link to the YMHFA Documentation Form that you can fill out if you have already attended Youth Mental Health First AId. Youth Mental Health First Aid is different than the NASRO Adolescent Mental Health Training that was held over the summer.
Click here to see the updated School Based Mental Health numbers
Click here to see what resources, co-facilitated small groups, and professional development opportunities are available for this school year.
Mindfulness Survey
Mindfulness can help relieve stress, improve sleep, and lower anxiety. Headspace and Calm are great free apps to use for mindfulness meditation.
Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress.
Enter the Mindfulness Survey for your chance to win a prize!
Self Care Super Power Winners!
Some Good Articles To Read
Links to Past Resilient Cardinal Newsletters
Helpful Flyers
REALiving Staff Resources
EAP Call Center: 877.256.9302
(Call to access services in EAP, ask questions about EAP, connect with a counselor for phone support, connect with someone from REALiving for 'management consultation'- aka brainstorm ways to use the EAP to support your team, connect with any member of our EAP team for your OWN personal support during this stressful time). You can also email us at BEST@REALiving.com
All materials we have ever published are available at:
Username: CFAUSDistrict
Password: cfausd_employee
The ABC's to wellness can be accessed on the left side of the screen. We are posting the weekly covid specific issues there too.
The Champions of People can be accessed on the left side of the screen too. September - December issues are COVID specific.
Support Available
Real-Living Counselors are available 24/7 via the Student and Family Assistance Program (SFAP) phone line. The phone number is 855.838.7170
To schedule an appointment with the Employee Achievement Program (EAP), call 1-877-256-9302. To access other information visit: www.EAP.REALiving.com (username: CFAUSD password:cfausd_employee)
Wellness Resources including REALiving weekly articles.
If you are feeling overwhelmed or distressed over COVID-19,
you can call a distress line at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
If you have additional questions about mental health resources in the
Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, please see www.cardinalcare.info