advocacy Archives

The Power of Programs with Impact Part IV:School Policy & Staff Development

Classroom Programs, For Educators, For Supporters / 02/09/2023 06/13/2024

Does the school policy at your school account for students who may be experiencing mental health challenges? Do staff know how to be trusted adults? How do your current school policy and staff training create an inclusive school environment around mental health? About Us Erika’s Lighthouse is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 that is …

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The Importance of Reaching Out to a Trusted Adult

For Parents, For Supporters, For Teens / 02/23/2023 06/13/2024

Access Programs Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation My Story I have always been someone who is afraid of reaching out for help. However, that had to change when at the end of freshman year I reached a point where I could not handle everyday life and feelings by myself. My parents were freshly divorced, COVID hit, and …

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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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Mental Health Awareness Month: Take the Positivity Pledge

Empowerment Clubs, For Parents, For Supporters, For Teens / 05/04/2023 06/13/2024

Access Programs The end of the school year is right around the corner and it brings an exciting time for change and new chapters in students’ lives. Erika’s Lighthouse recognizes this may also be a stressful and overwhelming season for students and teachers. Whether it’s state testing or finals we acknowledge that this may make …

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Parenthood

Family Engagement, For Parents, For Supporters, For Teens / By Nell Osborne / 05/17/2023 06/13/2024

A Heart on the Outside of the Body That is what it’s like having children. That’s what we’re told and we accept that as how it is. However, I am sitting here thinking, Uhm. Okay. But how in the world do I live my life if my heart is outside of my body? How do …

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Mental Health is School Health

Uncategorized / By Jeanie Alter Phd / 06/05/2023 06/13/2024

The American School Health Association (ASHA) is a national, multidisciplinary professional association that collaborates with Erika’s Lighthouse and others on a mental health initiative – Shine Light on Depression. ASHA’s work centers around connecting health and learning by encouraging collaboration across disciplines within the school and community to ensure that students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. …

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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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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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