Wellness » December in the Wellness Center

December in the Wellness Center

Cowboys and Cowboy Families, 
 
As our Deputy Superintendent shared, our community has been shattered by the inconceivable shooting at Saugus High School. This cataclysmic tragedy impacted our city, our district, our school community, our family systems and our own intrapersonal well-being.  Although this is a normal response, our sense of safety and notion of security has become questioned, which in turn, may increase sense of anxiety and our everyday routine in coming to school. Recognizing feelings and being emotionally aware of your feelings is important.  Feeling allows the start of healing.  It's important to recognize your feelings, give them space, process your feelings and use healthy coping mechanisms to work through them as this is part of the healing process.  Our community has truly been shaken to the core given Saugus' tragedy.  Counselors and the Wellness Center are here for you, Cowboys, if you need a place to vent, de-stress, process feelings or recognize how normal your feelings probably are. Reach out to us, come in and request a private moment. We are here for you.

 

As a parent or guardian, it’s important to remember that how you express your emotions can influence the reactions of children and teens. Parents can help by modeling healthy coping strategies and really monitoring your own emotional state. As a parent of a teenager, you might be experiencing your teen wanting to connect more with their friends than processing their emotions with you.  This is completely normal and part of their developmental process but as a parent, incorporate check ins with your teen- whether that be during dinner-time or driving around town.  It might be easier for teens to share by watching you share your feelings and emotional state first. Try incorporating this into your family to help teens recognize their own emotional state, rather than just running on auto-pilot and giving them a space to process their emotions and recognize ways to support and change their feelings through healthy coping tools. 
For this month, our focus in the Wellness Center is Support.  We are here for you Cowboys.  Please schedule an appointment if you want to talk to a counselor.  Throughout the month, we will be having therapy dogs on campus and in the Wellness Center.  During "Finals Week", we will be having therapy dogs in the Wellness Center during brunch.  Stop by and find support from an emotionally supportive animal, from peers or from counselors. 
 
In response to the recent shooting at Saugus, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help families and communities.  Please see below for available resources in addition to Saugus Strong Website. https://www.hartdistrict.org/apps/pages/saugusstrong
 
 
Also, CSUN College of Education is generously offering free counseling support related to the recent incident at Saugus HS through their Strength United Counseling Center.
 
Strength United
(818) 787-9700
 
They have offices in Newhall and programming through their “Trauma Recovery Center” funded by the California Victims of Crime Compensation Board. They specialize in counseling and services for crisis situations. They are extending free counseling and crisis services to our whole community. Please utilize counseling services if you or your son/daughter may benefit from processing their feelings related to the events our community has endured. 
 

Resources in Response to the Saugus High School Shooting

In response to the recent shooting at the Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help families and communities. These resources include tip sheets on:

·         The Psychological Impact of the Recent Shooting

·         Tips for Parents on Media Coverage

·         For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence

·         Tip Sheet for Youth Talking to Journalists about the Shooting

·         Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth after the Recent Shooting (Also in Spanish)

·         Talking to Children about the Shooting

·         Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators

·         After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal

·         Helping Young Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers

·         Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers

·         Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers

·         After the Injury—website for families with injured children

·         Health Care Toolbox—website for pediatric health providers working with injured children

Psychological First Aid

The NCTSN also has resources for responders on Psychological First Aid (PFA). PFA is an early intervention to support children, adolescents, adults, and families impacted by these types of events. PFA Mobile is an app that can be accessed for free on Apple and Android mobile devices. The NCTSN Learning Center offers a PFA online training course. Additional PFA resources include:

·         Psychological First Aid for Schools(PFA-S) – field operations guide

·         Providing PFA-S: For Health-Related Professionals - handout

·         Providing PFA-S: For Principals and Administrators- handout

·         Providing PFA-S: For School Support Staff - handout

·         Providing PFA-S: For Teachers - handout

Disaster Hotline

SAMHSA has a Disaster Distress Hotline– call 1-800-985-5990 or text TALKWITHUS to 66746.

National Association of School Psychologist Website:

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/school-violence-resources/talking-to-children-about-violence-tips-for-parents-and-teachers