The Resilient Cardinal
Because You Matter
April 2022
Equine Therapy is starting up again in 3 schools!
Most of us who have been around horses talk about their “therapeutic” value. It has been proven being in a barn grooming, feeding, and otherwise caring for horses reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and improves overall health. Yet, it is the companionship with our equine partners that is the foundation of our growth in relationship to these animals. Being with horses is the “therapy.”
Why horses? The Great Value of Horses:
Horses do not hide their emotions. They readily respond to the emotions humans display. For example, an angry individual can cause a horse to shy away and be avoidant. Horses are actually mirrors to us as humans in our various emotional and attitudinal states.
Therefore, being with horses assists children, teens and adults to get in touch with their feelings and process them in a way that is constructive. In doing so, individuals can transform, heal, gain confidence, and learn coping skills in order to become healthier, happier, and well adjusted.
We are excited to announce that we will be having co-facilitated small groups with 3 miniature therapy horses at Parkview, Halmstad, and Stillson this Spring! Please let me know if you would like a group set up in your school :)
Other Co-facilitated Small Groups for Spring
Other co-facilitated small groups that will be going on this Spring include Coping Skills/Self-regulation at Southview and Art Therapy at CVHS. Trisha Lundin from Healing Art Eau Claire will be running the Art Therapy group. Click HERE to learn more about Trisha and Healing Art if you are interested in setting up this group in your school.
*A co-facilitated small group means that we have community clinicians come in to facilitate the group, and we have a district employee present.
Taking Care of You STUDENT CONFERENCE Recorded Sessions Available
I am excited to announce that the Taking Care of You Conference Program with the RECORDED SESSIONS is now available and ready! Feel free to watch any of the recorded sessions on your own time! (Not all sessions were recorded. This program only includes sessions that were recorded.)
We had 70 students fill out a feedback form to give us some great information. 30 of those students were randomly selected to receive a gift bag.
We are looking into a NEW mental health support for the students: YOUTH COACHING
Youth Coaching:
Youth Coaches provide individualized services to help youth build healthy relationships and discover their potential. Youth Coaches engage in social and emotional learning methods that promote healthy relationships and coping skills to enhance youth wellbeing. Youth who participate in Youth Coaching services will have opportunities to improve their communication skills, character strengths, problem-solving skills, resiliency, life balance, and health and wellness.
Focus on Youth Wellness Domains:
- Social-Emotional Development
- Personal Development Strategies
- Communication
- Healthy Relationships
- Anger management
Youth Coaching Program Core Values:
- See and hear the youth without judgment
- Validate youth’s feelings without judgment
- Guide and support youth on strengths and life experiences
- Teach youth: communication skills, character strengths, problem-solving, strength-based language, resiliency practices, life balance, health, and wellness
New Therapist from Family Therapy Associates
Terri Wegener, MS, LPC-IT
Areas of Focus: Children, Adolescents, & Families
I am experienced in working with youth who have a variety of mental health issues, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, anger management, LGBTQIA+ related concerns, and trauma-based struggles. I use a variety of therapeutic approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, strength-based interventions, and activity-based therapies. I strive to and have been successful in creating a positive, safe, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment that allows clients to share their problematic experiences, increase confidence and feel empowered to make changes. I enjoy inspiring clients to recognize their individual strengths, build emotional awareness, and develop effective life skills.
Although I work with a wide variety of youth, as an identical twin, I am especially passionate about working with twins and their families to understand healthy attachment, individuality, and potential twin-related difficulties throughout development.
I am currently under the supervision of Stephanie Wilson, MS, LPC
Cardinal Care Staff Focus Group Results
Thank you for taking the Cardinal Care Staff Survey during the January PD days. This survey gives us valuable data. The district results were e-mailed out to you. Each school will be getting an individual school report on a later date.
On March 3rd, the staff from UW Population Health joined the Cardinal Care Staff Focus Group and presented the district data. Here is a link to watch a video of the UW Population Health presenting the results of the survey in case you missed the focus group. Here is a link to the Cardinal Care Staff Focus Group Agenda in case you are interested in joining us in the future!
On this survey was a link to be entered to win a prize. 25 people were chosen at random. They have won a stadium chair! Congratulations, and thank you for completing the survey!
Here are the prize winners:
Amy Ambelang
Ann Zenner
Brandon Ash
Brian Leuck
Caden Duff
Colleen Kunsman
Elizabeth Giles
Emilee Thornton
Emily Flaker
Eric Krista
Jessica Samb
Jodine Muhlenbeck
Josh Miller
Karyn Nyhus
Katelyn Hahn
Kris Kolinski
Laura Tuenge
Lisa Crocker
Melissa Rasmus
Pam Berg
Preston Benedict
Sue Johnson
Sue Normand
Susan House
Tammie Delveaux
Please let me know if you have any questions about the survey results.
Cardinal Care Staff Focus Group-April 7th
Please stop by and chat with your District Mental Health Team :)
DCLT-April 14th
The District and Community Leadership Team (DCLT) is a group of school district and community executive level administration, who have the authority to reallocate resources, change policy, sustain, and scale the key elements and core features of the ISF. The DCLT meets at least three times throughout the school year. Mission/Vision of DCLT: Our community partnerships will promote staff awareness and increase understanding of mental health supports and resources so all students will develop life-long resiliency Progress Monitoring Goal: Analyze the data we have and action plan around it. We will establish baseline data measuring frequency of community clinician contacts with educators for consultation, collaboration, and professional development. (REALiving will track this data)
Helpful Flyers
Helpful Links
Links to Past Resilient Cardinal Newsletters
February 2022 Resilient Cardinal
January 2022 Resilient Cardinal
December 2021 Resilient Cardinal
November 2021 Resilient Cardinal
October 2021 Resilient Cardinal
September 2021 Resilient Cardinal
August 2021 Resilient Cardinal
February 2021 Resilient Cardinal
January 2021 Resilient Cardinal
December 2020 Resilient Cardinal
November 2020 Resilient Cardinal
October 2020 Resilient Cardinal
September 2020 Resilient Cardinal
August 2020 Resilient Cardinal
EAP Information
To schedule an appointment with the Employee Achievement Program (EAP):
*Call 1-877-256-9302.
Counseling
Counseling services are available to employees and their immediate family members.
To see a list of affiliate counseling agencies, CLICK HERE. Once you have the agency and location you prefer, call our 24/7 Call Center at 1.877.256.9302 for an authorization number to schedule your appointment(s).
Professional Coaching
REALiving offers professional coaching services to help you be the best in all aspects of your life. These services are provided in person, via telephone, or via video. REALiving coaches can assist you in skill exploration, building strengths, and other skill development to enhance your work performance. Click here to learn about each one of the REALiving coaches available.
To access other information or REALiving materials visit:
Username: CFAUSDistrict@realiving.com
Password: cfausd_employee
Other Supports Available
Professional Coaches available within district
Jamie Ganske : ganskejl@chipfalls.org x3007
Amy Erickson: ericksae@chipfalls.org x2463
What is a Professional Coach?
As a professional striving to be your BEST, you may seek someone at times to help you achieve a goal or improve your performance. A coach is there to help with professional development in areas such as organizational skills, leadership development, communication skills, and work/life balance. Important questions to ask yourself as you start the coaching process are: "What do I want to get out of this? What abilities and skill sets do I want to discover and master? How do I want to show up differently so I am my BEST?
A BESTology Professional Coach can also help you navigate setting up EAP resources.
CONSULTATION AVAILABLE!
Any staff member can call 855-838-7170 at any time for consultation. This means you can call and ask for support if you are seeing a student with high behaviors or if you see a trend in your classroom. REALiving can help give you some ideas of what to do.
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.
Text HOPELINE to 741741
Northwest Connections Crisis Line 1-888-552-6642
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Chippewa Valley Free Clinic 715-839-8477
Open Door Clinic 715-720-1443
Wellness Shack 715-855-7705
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Outpatient 715-717-5899
L.E. Phillips Libertas Treatment Center 1-800-680-4578 or 715-723-5585
HSHS Sacred Heart The Healing Place 715-717-6028 *Not currently available*
Marshfield Behavioral Health 715-858-4850
Mayo Health System Outpatient 715-838-5369
Chippewa Cty Mental Health and Recovery Services 715-726-7788
If you have additional questions about mental health resources in the
Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, please see www.cardinalcare.info
Jamie Ganske
Email: ganskejl@chipfalls.org
Website: www.cardinalcare.info
Phone: 715.726.2414 3007