Classroom Programs Archives

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Schools Can Address Mental Health Smarter, Better, Easier

Classroom Programs, For Educators, For Supporters / 03/17/2023 06/13/2024

Access Portal Another study. Another confirmation that our youth are struggling with their or their peers’ mental health. In fact, student mental health experiences are now dramatically, and negatively, impacting the academic purpose of schools. According to the latest YouthTrust Student Survey, “‘Depression, stress, and anxiety’ is the most prevalent obstacle to learning for secondary students at …

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Why Educators Must Focus on Student Mental Health

Classroom Programs, Empowerment Clubs, For Educators, For Supporters / By Stephanie Morris / 03/23/2023 06/13/2024

Access Programs Erika’s Lighthouse at SHAPE Florida I heard an amazing presentation on Erika’s Lighthouse curriculum at a conference hosted by SHAPE Florida, the state organization for physical and health education K-12 teachers in Florida. Rachel Winsten, a high school P.E. teacher presented with passion and spoke about the opportunity through Erika’s Lighthouse. Erika’s Lighthouse offers resources …

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Promoting Student Thriving by Connecting SEL and Mental Health

Classroom Programs, For Educators, For Supporters / By Karen VanAusdal / 04/14/2023 06/13/2024

Access Programs Where It Begins For many districts, the path they follow into a more systemic approach to social and emotional learning (SEL) begins with concerns for their students (and adults’) mental wellness. This is both a logical connection as well as a narrow view of SEL. There are indeed many links between a systemic approach …

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Minority Mental Health: The Importance of Culturally-Sensitive Care and How Your Donation Can Help

Classroom Programs, Empowerment Clubs, Family Engagement, For Educators, For Families, For Supporters / By Nathalia Harris / 07/18/2023 06/13/2024

In 2020, suicide was the third leading cause of death for black and African American youth ages 15-19. Mental health disparities among minority groups are a severe problem in the United States. There have been increasing trends in suicidal ideation and attempts among US adolescents by sex and race/ethnicity over the past few decades. A …

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Erika’s Lighthouse 2022-2023 Program Report

Classroom Programs, Empowerment Clubs, Family Engagement, For Educators / 08/15/2023 06/13/2024

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit dedicated to providing free turn-key resources to educators to create inclusive school cultures around mental health. Every student deserves good mental health. By using our resources in your school you promote school-wide mental health awareness, positivity, and help-seeking. The 2022-2023 Program Report details Erika’s Lighthouse impact across over 500,000 students this …

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The Four Pillars

Classroom Programs, Empowerment Clubs, Family Engagement, For Educators, For Families, For Students, For Supporters / 08/28/2023 01/28/2026

Erika’s Lighthouse focuses on equipping school communities with the mental health education needed through four main pillars. Classroom Education, Family Engagement, Empowerment Clubs, and School Policy & Staff Development. These work together to promote and support an inclusive school culture around mental health by targeting all stakeholders in the school community; staff, caregivers, and students. …

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Classroom Education’s Impact

Classroom Programs, For Educators, For Supporters / 09/25/2023 06/13/2024

We offer a suite of three educational programs designed to allow educators to empower their students with an introduction to mental health, depression literacy, help-seeking, and good mental health. These are no-cost, tier-one, early identification, and early intervention programs that are geared toward students in grades 4-12 and use diverse teen voices to spread awareness …

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As Funds Expire, Equity & Sustainability Are Key

Classroom Programs, For Educators, For Supporters / 09/28/2023 06/13/2024

As Funds Expire, Equity & Sustainability Are Key A flurry of recent articles has raised the reality that federal COVID-19 relief funds are set to expire, and their renewal is unlikely. An example of this is the September 13th article from Chalkbeat, “Schools face a funding cliff. How bad will the fall be?”. The loss …

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Depression Education is Suicide Prevetion

Classroom Programs, For Educators / 11/13/2023 06/13/2024

Depression is a common mental illness that affects millions of people worldwide. It can cause a wide range of symptoms, including sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15-24 and is often associated with …

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Resource Highlight: Help Seeking Worksheet

Classroom Programs, Empowerment Clubs, For Educators, For Students, Uncategorized / 11/27/2023 06/13/2024

When you’re struggling with mental health challenges, it can be tough to know where to turn for help. You may feel like you’re all alone, or that you don’t deserve help. You may also worry about what other people will think if you reach out for support. The Help-Seeking Worksheet from Erika’s Lighthouse is a tool …

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