Family Engagement

Erika’s Lighthouse ’23-’24 Program Report

Erika’s Lighthouse releases an annual program report to highlight the impact that our programs have made in schools nationwide with our Level II and Level III classroom education. The  Program Report for the 2023-2024 school year also recognizes Erika’s Lighthouse’s 20th Anniversary and takes a look at how our programs have changed over the course …

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Mental Health Literacy in Schools

Erika’s Lighthouse is a beacon of hope for schools seeking to create inclusive and supportive environments where mental health matters. Mental health literacy is defined as an understanding of common mental health disorders, how to maintain positive mental health, increase help-seeking, and reduce stigma. When schools prioritize and adopt programs that teach mental health literacy, …

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White Paper: Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention: Implementing Effective Prevention Strategies

[xyz-ihs snippet=”HubSpot—Access-Free-Programs-Button”] Download the White Paper  Abstract Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention: Model Language, Commentary, and Resources is the recognized policy for effective district-level engagement for suicide prevention in schools around the country. Developed by thought leaders in education and suicide prevention, it is the policy Erika’s Lighthouse has supported and shared since …

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White Paper: Integrating Mental Health into the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model for School Health

[xyz-ihs snippet=”HubSpot—Access-Free-Programs-Button”] Download the PDF > Abstract The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC, pronounced “wisk”) Model is an ideal framework for school communities to assess, plan and implement healthy school policies in a coordinated fashion. Erika’s Lighthouse supports this model in its attempt to create cultural change within schools to boost the physical …

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The Erika’s Lighthouse Perspective to the CDC’s Recent Youth Survey on School Connectedness and Mental Health

An examination of the mental health impact of COVID-19 and how connectedness to school, family, friends and community groups impact mental health outcomes. Please note: Numbers represent the highlighted annotations on this CDC report. The Erika’s Lighthouse programs firmly center on the student, allowing teens to find their voices and speak up about mental health. By …

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CDC Report on Youth Mental Health: The Erika’s Lighthouse Perspective

Access Programs In April, the CDC published a report on youth mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistics are grim. But the survey also offers hope. Teens who feel connected at school report much lower rates of poor mental health. And schools can play an important role in supporting students’ mental health. Erika’s Lighthouse is here …

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The Power of Programs with ImpactPart III: Family Engagement

Do the family members of your district have the tools and knowledge they need to recognize signs of depression? Are they trusted adults who can address mental health? Do they know where to get help for their students or other teens in the community?  Who We Are Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization founded in …

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Erika’s Lighthouse Update on Adolescent Mental Health: February 2023

Access Programs Erika’s Lighthouse is dedicated to adolescent mental health and our mission of ensuring no young person ever feels alone in their depression. In February 2023, the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows alarming data on the mental health emergency our children are facing. In the past 12 months: However, the CDC found school connectedness has …

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Signs & Symptoms of Adolescent Depression

Adolescent depression is real, serious and treatable. However, adolescence is a time of major changes, both physically and emotionally. That may make it difficult to identify beyond typical adolescent behavior, but by looking for the signs and symptoms of depression, we can see it. Adolescence is frequently when depression may first happen, and is one …

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