Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 - (Page 3) TRANSFORMING SYSTEMS, TRANSFORMING LIVES [improving teacher retention] Safe spaces for all Emotional well-being of children doesn’t just impact their ability to learn and overall academic achievement of schools they attend. Student mental health can influence a host of relevant issues for schools—among them campus culture, safety and even overall satisfaction and retention of teachers. High teacher attrition in Missouri is one reason that education administrators cite for implementing or strengthening policies to boost mental health of students. “Educators are asked to be effective and efficient with their use of resources. So instituting programs that can enhance campus culture and academics is not only appropriate—it’s imperative if “Before we can transform lives, we must first transform how we’re to help students reach their full potential, and help staff maintain rewarding careers,” says Norman Ridder, superintendent community-based systems work together the mental well-being of children is not the sole responsibility of the family and a mental-health provider. Instead, mental health is a public-health issue. As such, the mental-health of the Springfield School District (see cover story for more). Ridder is referring, in part, to a 2002 report by the Missouri State Auditor’s Office with statistics that are sobering: I 15 percent of Missouri teachers leave the profession after their first year of teaching. I Just 29 percent of Missouri residents with a valid teaching certificate currently work in the state’s public schools. I 28 percent of certified teachers never enter the classroom. Often cited as one reason for teachers leaving the profession is a sense of being inadequately prepared to handle a range of student status of children affects every member of the community and is the responsibility of every child-serving organization in the community.” — A. KATHRYN POWER, M.Ed., Director, Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December 2006 behaviors. A first step for education administrators and policy leaders? Enhancing professional development of staff to help them identify risk factors in students with social-emotional concerns or disorders, and instituting policies that lead to the least restrictive placement for these at-risk students—some of them perhaps among the best and brightest minds that Missouri has to offer. Don’t let limited budgets deter you from enhancing services to staff and students to boost campus culture and overall academics. Tap free services from eight federally funded Missouri Regional Resource Centers for Suicide Prevention (find one nearest you on page 4 map) to bring a host of programs to schools: I Free training for teachers, nurses, social workers and other school personnel I Presentations about fostering risk and protective factors in vulnerable youth I Issues presentations on cutting, bullying, help-seeking behaviors and more I Clearinghouse for best evidence-based programs schools can implement I Assistance in developing a suicide-prevention plan, implementing an existing program or planning relevant activities to mark national suicide-prevention week I Comprehensive listing of local referral resources and treatment providers I Response in the wake of a student or faculty suicide with sound strategies GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK—Email talkback@wellawaresp.org Administrators can improve school culture by enhancing training to help staff better engage students with emotional issues. This, say experts, is important for boosting teacher satisfaction and retention, because training gives staff the tools and comfort level to best interact with all students—including those who may be grappling with mental illness. WELL AWARE MISSOURI VOL. 1, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2007-2008 3 http://www.house.mo.gov/bills071/biltxt/intro/HCR00411.htm http://www.house.mo.gov/bills071/biltxt/intro/HCR00411.htm http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/ http://samhsa.gov http://www.dmh.missouri.gov/cps/issues/suicide/ResourceCenters.htm
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 Mindful Strides Enhancing Academic Outcomes Helping You to Be Well Aware Transforming Systems, Transforming Lives Safe Spaces for All Solution Climate Change Be Well Aware Talk Back Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 - Mindful Strides (Page 1) Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 - Helping You to Be Well Aware (Page 2) Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 - Solution (Page 3) Well Aware - Winter 2007-2008 - Talk Back (Page 4)
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