How can I engage the families of our students?
Family members set the trend for their children at home. Support families in your community with workbooks and training on how to speak with their children about mental health.
Engage Parents and Families as Partners to Support Student Mental Health
The Erika's Lighthouse Family Engagement pillar provides free, school-ready resources to help families support student mental health. These include printable bookmarks, a three-part workbook series, and two on-demand video workshops. All resources are available in English and Spanish at no cost to schools or families. Families are encouraged to explore these materials together to build open conversations about mental health at home.
Schools can share these resources in a variety of ways:
- At parent or caregiver meetings
- At the beginning of the school year as part of a welcome-back or orientation packet
- During May (Mental Health Awareness Month) or October (World Mental Health Day)
- In a monthly e-newsletter
- On a website resource list or counseling department newsletter
- Through school social media channels or community groups
- During staff professional development days to equip educators with family-facing tools