Social/Emotional/ Behavioral

Behavioral Health Brief

This brief provides a holistic perspective of physical and behavioral health from a Native worldview. The richness, depth, and beauty of this perspective is much more than what can be observed in an educational setting. The authors consider how history affects the health of Native people today. This academic-level review focuses on the cultural aspects of physical and behavioral health.

Student Engagement in Online Classes: Tips for Teachers Based on Trauma-Informed Approaches and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Strategies

As schools pivot to online teaching, student engagement in the virtual classroom environment has become an urgent and important topic to be addressed. This tip sheet provides concrete strategies that teachers can incorporate into their online teaching to increase engagement with students of middle and high school. The authors present a framework based on trauma-informed (TI) approaches and social and emotional learning (SEL) strategies to ensure students feel safe, connected, engaged, and ready to learn.

Better Together: A Coordinated Response for Principals and District Leaders

It is no secret that successful school leadership starts with the principal. District leadership must prioritize the needs of principals who in turn, will empower the school-based crisis response teams to address the needs of the school community. This brief provides readers with a structured approach to manage the social-emotional well-being of the adults in the school building, post COVID-19 closures. The phrase, “better together,” has never been truer as school communities embark on the uncharted territory of virtual, hybrid and/or physical re-entry after an extended school closure.

Informational Resources on Improving Social and Emotional Learning and Outcomes

Improving students’ social and emotional outcomes is of great interest to many and this document organizes the numerous reports, publications, and online resources on social, emotional, and behavioral learning (SEL) into categories for streamlined access and use. The author started with a searchable database of resources at the Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety. Additional resources were added, particularly on the recommendations of SEL experts. The reports/resources are free and easily accessible online (links provided).

Physical and Behavioral Health: You Have the Strength of 7 Generations

This infographic emphasizes the role of extended family in the four components of wrap-around services: engagement, initial plan development, plan implementation, and transitioning.

Behavioral Health: Tribal Best Practices Quick Reference

This factsheet summarizes the Native community strengths that contribute to tribal best practices in Behavioral Health. Topics include Circles of Care and wrap-around services, values and guiding principles.

Behavioral Health: Cultural Opportunities

This 2-page infographic summarizes Native community strengths and how they can be incorporated into behavioral health opportunities. One section compares a Euro-American framework with the Native framework for behavioral health supports.

Assessing Socioemotional Needs: Return-To-School Surveys for Teachers, School Counselors, Parents, and Students

As schools prepare to reopen, district and school leaders must understand the socioemotional needs of the school community in order to plan for a safe, supportive, and equitable learning environment. These four surveys are designed to get feedback from educators, students, caregivers, and school counselors about their experience with online learning/teaching during COVID-19 related school closures. The surveys ask about concerns over school reopening, communication from school/districts, mixed modes of learning (in-person and virtual), readiness to learn, readiness to support students, and the training and resources needed. The surveys each take ~ 10-15 minutes to complete, and contain closed- and open-ended questions that can generate summary scores as well as qualitative responses that can be used in the planning process.

Relationships, COVID-19 and Sheltering In Place

Tips for dealing with partnership issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing Grief: Tips for Teachers and Administrators

Tips for teachers and administrators about addressing grief.