Educator Newsletter: November 2023

Curricum Training

Thank you to all the presenters who attended a Refresher Training to be able to implement the Updated Edition of Stand Strong • Stay Safe Early Childhood! 

New training sessions have just been announced. If you are a trained presenter of Stand Strong • Stay Safe - Early Childhood, don't miss this opportunity to update your training and receive a new set of puppets at no cost, thanks to the generous funders of this project.

Know and Avoid Unsafe Situations

Be Assertive and Take Action to Stay Safe

Tell a Grown-Up You Trust (and Keep Telling)

It is Never Your Fault if Someone Hurts You

The updated program features brand new puppets, more effective methodologies and adaptations for younger children, and posters to reinforce learning. The program has been extensively reviewed to ensure that it is trauma-informed and culturally sensitive.

If you are interested in refresher training or have never been trained in our programs and would like to be, please reach out by email to Gretchen Lash

New Grant-Funded Opportunities Available

ChildBuilders is thrilled to announce that we are grateful recipients of a 2023 grant from the Powell Foundation. Through this partnership, we will continue to create communities where all children can grow into adults who can cope with adversity, strengthen their communities, and nurture the next generation to do the same. Specifically, this grant will allow us to expand our initiatives in high-risk communities by enhancing our collaborations with Harris County ISD's, continuing to update and improve our programs to ensure cultural and trauma sensitivity, and increasing adult engagement through workshops and webinars.

Educators and administrators in the following school districts are invited to introduce ChildBuilders' programs into their communities at no cost to their schools:

Grant-funded activities include curriculum training in any of our resilience-building programs; support and coaching during implementation; professional development workshops/webinars for teachers and other school personnel on topics such as trauma, children's mental health, and classroom management; and workshops/webinars designed for parents on topics such as positive discipline, mindfulness and self-care, and recognizing and responding to signs of mental health concerns in a child.

Review ChildBuilders' Professional Development Catalog for program details and contact us today to bring ChildBuilders to your school!

FBISD Training

Spotlight: Fort Bend ISD

During the 2022-2023 school year, counselors in Fort Bend ISD taught Stand Strong • Stay Safe to 3,448 children in the following Elementary schools:

This month, we wish to share our gratitude for the counselors and school professionals in Fort Bend ISD, with whom ChildBuilders has formed an impactful partnership over the past several years.

As we highlighted in our discussion last month, the previous school year saw the introduction of new laws outlining opt-in requirements for child abuse prevention programs in Texas schools. Embracing these regulations, Fort Bend ISD took proactive steps to ensure compliance, although it necessitated temporarily pausing programming in some schools. While this adjustment posed challenges for many counselors who had intricate guidance and counseling schedules to manage, the dedication of our educators prevailed.

Even in the face of these obstacles, an impressive 3,448 children in Fort Bend ISD had the opportunity to embrace the empowering message of Stand Strong • Stay Safe last year:

I deserve respect (and so do others).

I have the right to be safe (and I can recognize unsafe situations).

I have the power to choose (and will respond assertively).

I will get help (if a problem is too big).

The current school year has sparked tremendous enthusiasm among Fort Bend ISD counselors and district-level supporters. These dedicated professionals were quick to identify specific aspects of Stand Strong • Stay Safe – Early Childhood that needed review, and their valuable input has led to an updated and enhanced program launching this Fall. Their eagerness to receive training and a new set of puppets demonstrates their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our children.

Under the outstanding leadership of Rachel McCune and others, all elementary-level counselors in the district, which serves over 82,000 children, are undergoing comprehensive training in all levels of Stand Strong • Stay Safe. This substantial commitment reflects the district’s dedication to the cause.

Moreover, several counselors have taken the initiative to introduce ChildBuilders’ professional development workshops to their teachers. Our latest workshop, “Cultivating Healthy Classrooms with Empathy and Connection,” equips teachers with simple yet effective tools to address classroom management challenges by fostering a sense of community and enhancing the classroom environment. Thanks to the generous support from The George Foundation, any Fort Bend ISD school can book this workshop at no cost. Additionally, the workshop is available online for the Greater Houston Community.

We eagerly anticipate the positive impact of the efforts put forth by Fort Bend ISD’s passionate counselors and administrators in their respective school communities in the coming months. We hope that their dedication serves as inspiration for other school districts to join us in ensuring that every child and adult in our communities has access to essential knowledge and skills to foster resilience and build safe families, schools, and communities.

Upcoming Educator Webinars

Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resiliency

Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resiliency

What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and how does trauma impact the developing child?
When Life Gets Hard: Coping With Adverse Childhood Experiences & Trauma

When Life Gets Hard: Coping With Adverse Childhood Experiences & Trauma

What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and how does trauma impact the developing child?
Cultivating Healthy Classrooms with Empathy and Connection

Cultivating Healthy Classrooms with Empathy and Connection

Have you been frustrated managing a classroom with out-of-control behaviors? In this workshop, learn knowledge and skills to cultivate a nurturing and empathetic classroom climate. Participants will walk away with hands-on activities and ideas to promote empathy and connection in the classroom.
Navigating Rough Waters: Understanding Children's Mental Health

Navigating Rough Waters: Understanding Children's Mental Health

What is typical childhood behavior? When should I be concerned? Learn strategies to recognize and help kids with mental health concerns.

Upcoming Parenting webinars

Share these upcoming webinars with your families – presented live on Zoom. Select presentations are available with Spanish Interpretation.

Creating a Nurturing Home Environment for Children

Creating a Nurturing Home Environment for Children

October 16, 2024    
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
No Cost
Children need connection and guidance to grow into healthy adults. This workshop will help you learn to parent with connection in mind, using empathy and assertiveness to reach that goal.
You've Got This: Parenting And Children's Mental Health

You've Got This: Parenting And Children's Mental Health

Learn about signs & symptoms of mental health concerns in young children and 3 strategies for helping children. With Spanish interpretation.
Feeling Stressed? Learn Mindful Parenting

Feeling Stressed? Learn Mindful Parenting

November 13, 2024    
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
No Cost
Find a new way to respond to the stress of parenting, calm your mind, and be kinder to yourself and your kids. With Spanish interpretation.
Using Empathy in Discipline

Using Empathy in Discipline

November 20, 2024    
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
No Cost
Parenting is about the day-to-day interactions we have with our children that build trust and love. This presentation will focus on connecting with your children while disciplining. Learn to set boundaries and hold children accountable.
When Life Gets Hard: Parenting Through Trauma

When Life Gets Hard: Parenting Through Trauma

Learn about trauma’s effect on development and behavior and come away with 5 strategies to help children heal. With Spanish interpretation.
Keeping Children Safe in a Troubled World

Keeping Children Safe in a Troubled World

December 11, 2024    
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
No Cost
Learn to identify signs and symptoms of abuse and explore ways to keep children safe from abuse & trauma.

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